The Life of William Grayson Author:Lucy Baker William Grayson 1726-1790. Grayson was a Patriot, Founding Father and a Colonel in the Continental Army. His closest friends were George Washington, Patrick Henry and his cousin James Monroe. Grayson helped to form the Constitution and became the first senator in the first Federal Congress along with Richard Henry Lee in 1788. — The most importan... more »t bit of legislation of the era was the "Northwest Ordinance" authored by William Grayson.« less