MB ChB Edin 1923, DPH 1924, MD 1928; FRS Edin.
Grierson was born on 6 November 1901 in Edinburgh and received his medical education at Edinburgh University. Grierson immediately decided on a career in public health and was appointed to the bacteriological department at Edinburgh University. Soon after he was assistant medical officer of health of the City of Edinburgh and Port of Leith. In 1935 the City of Manchester made a new position of senior medical officer for housing, as part of its efforts against bad housing. Grierson was appointed to this position and worked closely with Dr Veitch Clark, the medical officer of health. During the second world war Grierson dealt with the medical direction of air-raid precautions. After the war he was senior medical officer in the Manchester public health department before being appointed deputy medical officer of health in 1947. He was president of the North West Branch of the Society of Medical Officers of Health in 1951. Grierson died on 13 April 1961.