Grayson was a Texas ship captain involved with the Texas Navy and early shipping in Texas. He was born in North Carolina in 1808 and came to Texas in 1835 where he served as the commander of various steamers in Texas, such as the Laura, the Yellow Stone, and the Ocean of the Texas Navy. While on the Laura, he helped capture the Mexican war vessel Correo and took the prize to New Orleans. He continued to work the waters of the upper Texas coast until 1839 when he moved to Austin. He later started a ranch in Selma and settled in San Antonio where he died in 1873.