Cary T. Grayson

Cary Travers Grayson ( born October 11, 1878 in Culpeper, Virginia, USA, † February 15, 1938 in Washington, DC) was a rear admiral and physician in the medical corps of the United States Navy and later personal physician to the U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson. From 1935 to 1938 he served as Chairman of the American Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies, which is now the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Life

Cary Travers Grayson began after the end of medical school in July 1903 an army career as a medical assistant. In December 1912 he moved to Washington, DC in the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery ( Office of Medicine and Surgery), the senior agency of the U.S. Navy for medical affairs. In this capacity, he was also an adviser in the White House physician to three U.S. presidents. In particular, the relationship between Grayson and Wilson was considered a close and friendly.

On 24 May 1916 he married Alice Gertrude Gordon, together they later had three sons. On 29 August of the same year he was promoted to Konteradminal. After his retirement on 20 December 1928, he was awarded the Navy Cross, the second highest award for members of the naval forces of the United States. In addition, he was appointed by the French government appointed commander of the Legion of Honour.

After the end of his army career, he was from 1935 until his death chairman of the American Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies. In both positions, he was the successor of John Barton Payne. During his tenure, the American Red Cross organized in 1937 large-scale relief efforts for the victims of floods of the Ohio and the Mississippi. Both at the top of the American Red Cross and the League Norman Davis followed him in office.

He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The destroyer USS Grayson (DD -435 ), in the service of the U.S. Navy from July 1939 to February 1947, was named after him.