Cary Travers Grayson

Cary Travers Grayson (October 11, 1878 – February 15, 1938) was a surgeon in the United States Navy who served a variety of roles from personal aide to President Woodrow Wilson to chairman of the American Red Cross.

Career Grayson was born to Dr. John Cooke Grayson (a descendant of American George Mason, one of the American Founding Fathers) and Frances Adelena Pettus at Salubria, the Grayson family estate in Culpeper County, Virginia. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary in 1898. He studied for three years at the Medical College of Virginia before leaving to attend the University of the South. He interned for a year at Columbia Hospital for Women in Washington, D.C.

After completing his medical studies, Grayson was appointed Acting Assistant Surgeon on July 14, 1903. In 1915, after the death of Wilson's first wife, Grayson introduced Wilson to Edith Bolling Galt, who became his second wife. Grayson resided in the White House. He accompanied Wilson and stayed near him while he attended peace talks in Paris in 1919.

After Wilson left office in 1921, the Navy assigned Grayson to the U.S. Naval Dispensary. From this position, he continued to attend to Wilson's health.

Grayson was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Awards Before transferring to the Retired List on December 20, 1928, Admiral Grayson received the Navy Cross for exceptionally meritorious service as aide and physician to President Wilson. He was also made Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honor by the French government for his service to Wilson during the peace talks after World War I. The couple lived at Highlands, a large home on Wisconsin Avenue NW.

It was purchased and the larger property developed by the Sidwell Friends School. The house serves as its administration building. Other parts of the property have been developed as buildings for the school, Hearst Elementary School, and Fannie Mae.

Blue Ridge Farm

An avid horseman involved in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing, Grayson purchased Blue Ridge Farm in Upperville, Virginia, a horse stud farm, in 1928. Among his successful horses, Fluvanna was voted the retrospective American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly. In 1938, Grayson's last year, he bred the mare On Hand to Kentucky Derby winner Brokers Tip to produce the colt Market Wise, which went on to become a multiple stakes winner and the 1943 U.S. Co-champion Handicap Horse.

Blue Ridge Farm remains owned by the Grayson family. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Legacy The , a Gleaves-class destroyer was named in his honor.

Grayson Avenue in Mercerville, New Jersey, 08619, is said to be named in his honor.

Grayson's papers were donated to the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library (Staunton Virginia). More were contributed by his family in 2006. Researchers have found that these shed more light on the events that took place.