He was the son of Mary Fleming Tinning, who was the daughter of Elizabeth "Betsy" Jardine, who was the daughter of David Jardine, whose brother Doctor William Jardine co-founded one of the largest trading houses in the Far East, Jardine Matheson & Company
He arrived in Hong Kong in 1892 and became a managing partner in the Jardine Matheson & Company from 1901 to 1910. He was also a Shanghai Municipal Councillor. He retired from the Far East in 1911 and resided in the Birlingham House in a village in Worcestershire, England.
Gresson was killed in a hunting field in England on 10 January 1934 left an estate to the gross value of £243,276, with Netto personalty £231,443.
Gresson Street in Wan Chai of Hong Kong Island was named after William Jardine Gresson.
He served as unofficial member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong in 1904 and 1906 to 1910 and Executive Council of Hong Kong in 1904, 1905 and 1908.
