John B. Grayson

John Breckinridge Grayson (October 18, 1806 – October 21, 1861) was a career United States Army officer and a graduate of West Point. He is well known for being a Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War, his service during the Mexican-American War, and for his early death only three months after joining the Confederate Army of pneumonia and tuberculosis.

Early life and career John Grayson was born in Kentucky in 1806 to Alfred W. Grayson and Letitia Breckinridge at the Breckinridge family estate of "Cabell's Dale". After his father's death when he was around ten Grayson's mother married Peter Buell Porter. Grayson was appointed to West Point through his ties to three very powerful families the Breckinridges, Graysons, and Porters. He graduated in 1826 and became a second lieutenant in the artillery. He was first assigned to Fort Monroe where he remained for six years. He then served in a variety of southern forts from 1832 to 1835. In 1835 the Second Seminole War broke out in Florida. Grayson fought at Camp Izard and then at the Battle of Oloklikaha. He then immediately became commander of the East and Middle Departments of Florida. Soon after arriving, though, Grayson caught both pneumonia and tuberculosis. He died soon after on October 21, 1861, in Tallahassee, Florida, at the age of 55, not having fought a single battle during the Civil War.

Notable family Secretary of War Peter B. Porter, Step-Father Colonel Peter A. Porter, Half-Brother Attorney General John Breckinridge, Grandfather Senator William Grayson, Grandfather Vice President, Confederate General, Confederate Secretary of War John C. Breckinridge, 1st Cousin