Ray, Thomas Mathew (1801–81), political activist and administrator, was born in Dublin, eldest son of Mathew Ray, master cooper, and Sarah Ray (née Carton). He was given a classical education in schools in Dublin and worked as a scrivener before becoming secretary of the National Trades Political Union in 1832 and the Trades Union election committee. He helped register voters for the return of Daniel O'Connell (qv) for Dublin in 1832 and published the useful A list of the constituency of the city of Dublin (1835). His organisational ability attracted the attention of O'Connell, who appointed him to the short-lived General Association of Ireland in 1836 and made him secretary of the Precursor Society when it was founded in 1838. Ray transferred to the Repeal Association on its inauguration on 15 April 1840, serving as secretary until its dissolution in 1848. He was the classic behind-the-scenes man, supremely efficient, publicly taciturn, the grave recipient of his superiors’ confidences, and was known by the sobriquet ‘My dear Ray’ from O'Connell's mode of addressing him in public letters. O'Connell termed Ray ‘just the best man in his station I have ever met with, beyond any comparison the best’ (Correspondence, vi, 360). Sir Charles Gavan Duffy (qv) referred to ‘his remarkable powers of organising and superintending work . . . he possessed a talent rarer in Ireland than the gift of speech – he might be accounted for seeing done efficiently and silently whatever was ordered’ (Duffy, Young Ireland, 177). Ray managed the Repeal Association's vast correspondence with its branches in Ireland, Scotland, England, America, and Australia; he ensured the efficient registration of voters, appointed permanent ‘repeal wardens’, and organised the ‘monster’ meetings of 1842–3 where tens of thousands turned out, including aldermen, councillors, clergy, and trade union representatives. On his initiative, ‘repeal reading rooms’ were set up in towns around the country for the spread of propaganda. Duffy numbers these at more than 1,200.
Ray was admitted to both the King's Inns, Dublin, and Gray's Inn, London, in 1842, but seems not to have practised at the bar. He also enrolled at TCD (1843) but did not graduate. However, legal training may have come in useful for his numerous repeal reports, particularly his Report on the Irish coercion bill, the causes of discontent in Ireland, condition of the people, comparative criminality with England, remedial measures (1846). In 1844 he was tried with O'Connell and seven others, including Duffy, for sedition. This arose out of the monster meetings. His counsel, J. P. Hatchell (1783–1870), objected strongly to Ray's being included: he was a paid organiser, supporting a large family, and had personally attended only two meetings as a spectator. However, he was sentenced to nine months, although he served only three (30 May–6 September) and was comfortably quartered in Richmond prison until the sentences were quashed by the house of lords. From prison he surprised his friends by contributing to the Nation ‘a couple of lively, political squibs, which none of us had suspected from the laborious and saturnine secretary’ (Duffy, Young Ireland, 492).
Evidence of Ray's influence behind the scenes comes out in his dealings with the Young Irelanders. He upheld to the sternest degree the peace proposal of the Repeal Association and was ready to expel all members who did not renounce violence. His methods varied from petitioning O'Connell and using ‘exquisite tact’ (O'Connell, Corr., 48) on Smith O'Brien (qv) to denying entrance and obstructing speakers. His attempts to purge the association have been labelled ‘a witch hunt’ (Davis, 145).
Ray was heartbroken by O'Connell's death in 1847; his loyalty to him was absolute. He addressed him as ‘the Liberator’ and christened one of his sons ‘O'Connell’. He continued as repeal secretary under John O'Connell until the 1848 rising. When the Association was briefly revived in October 1849, Ray subscribed but took no active part. Assistant registrar of deeds 1865–80, he died at 5 Leinster Road, Rathmines, Dublin, on 5 January 1881, and was buried in Glasnevin cemetery. His wife, Mary (1802–51) predeceased him, as did three of his numerous progeny.