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Vivian Charles Byers De Gray was born in Portsmouth on January 30, 1912. His father Charles was a gunner in the Royal Artillery and his mother, Elizabeth Richardson, was born in Żebbuġ, Malta. The De Grays moved to Malta in 1917 and Vivian was first sent to Flores College. He later attended the British Garrison School and the Lyceum.

He started his working career as a civilian shorthand clerk with the Royal Army Ordinance Corps (ROAC) and later transferred to the Services Intelligence Office in Bighi. He joined the Police Force as a sub-inspector in 1934 after an open competitive examination, and in 1946 he was promoted to the rank of superintendent. In this rank he served as adjutant to three consecutive police commissioners.

De Gray, Vivian was first appointed Acting Commissioner in 1955 after his predecessor, George Cachia, resigned. Then on June 1, 1956, De Gray became Commissioner of Police, an appointment Mintoff described as a calculated risk by the Cabinet as he was aware that De Gray was a man of character. De Gray was more British than the British themselves.

When Mintoff became Prime Minister in June 1971, De Gray was given two options – face an inquiry or resign. He opted for the second and retired on pension. He had served as Police Commissioner for 15 years.

On May 18, 1972, De Gray was arrested and a search was conducted in his residence in Gwardamanġa. However, when the Prime Minister heard of De Gray’s arrest he ordered his immediate release. These orders were conveyed to Commissioner Alfred Bencini by Inspector Paul Mamo, who at that time was an attaché at the Office of the Prime Minister.

Vivian de Gray died on January 7, 1993, at the age of 83.