Draft:John A. Gray (restaurateur)

John A. Gray Sr. (1827-1911) was a restaurateur, hotelier, and government official in the United States. He served presidents and high government officials. In 1869 he opened a 3-story hotel and restaurant in Washington D.C. U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant appointed him to Washington D.C.'s first legislative council.

He had a successful restaurant serving a white clientele, but when he integrated it offering service to the area's African Americans it was "broken up". He went on to co-own Gray & Costley at 1313 E Street Northwest.