Joseph Grinnell (November 17, 1788 – February 7, 1885) was a
U.S. Representative
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...
from
and friend of
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...
, and the brother of
Moses Hicks Grinnell.
Early life
Grinnell was born in
New Bedford, Massachusetts on November 17, 1788. He was the son of Cornelius Grinnell (1758–1850) and Sylvia (
née
A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth ...
Howland) Grinnell (1765–1837). His siblings included
Henry Grinnell and
Moses Hicks Grinnell.
After completing preparatory studies he moved to New York City in 1809, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits.
Career
In 1815, he aided in establishing the firm of Fish and Grinnell, which later became
Grinnell, Minturn & Co
Grinnell, Minturn & Co. was one of the leading transatlantic shipping companies in the middle 19th century. It is probably best known today as being the owner and operator of the ''Flying Cloud (clipper), Flying Cloud'', arguably the greatest of ...
.
His two younger brothers, Moses and
Henry Grinnell, became members of the firm in 1825.
When Joseph retired in 1828, his place was taken by
Robert B. Minturn
Robert Bowne Minturn (November 16, 1805 – January 9, 1866) was one of the most prominent American merchants and shippers of the mid-19th century. Today, he is probably best known as being one of the owners of the famous clipper ship, '' Flyi ...
.
He served as president of the First National Bank of New Bedford in 1832, president of the
New Bedford & Taunton Railroad in 1839, and a member of the Governor's council from 1839-1841.
In 1840, he became a director of the
Boston & Providence Railroad
The Boston and Providence Railroad was a railroad company in the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island which connected its namesake cities. It opened in two sections in 1834 and 1835 - one of the first rail lines in the United States - with a ...
, the following year its president, resigning that position in 1846, but remaining a director until 1863. He also served as president of the
Wamsutta Mills from 1847 until 1885.
Public office
Grinnell was elected as a
Whig to the
Twenty-eighth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Barker Burnell. He was reelected to the
Twenty-ninth,
Thirtieth, and
Thirty-first Congresses and served from December 7, 1843, to March 3, 1851. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1850.
After serving in Congress, he resumed his former business activities.
Personal life
Grinnell was married to Sarah Russell (1788–1862), the daughter of Abraham and Sarah (née Schumacher) Russell. Joseph lived in New Bedford for fifty-six years, often traveling to Europe.
His niece and adopted daughter Cornelia Grinnell married the poet
N.P. Willis
NP may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''NP'' (novel), by Japanese author Banana Yoshimoto
Organizations
* Nashua-Plainfield Community School District, Iowa, United States
* National Party (disambiguation), various political parties
* Nge ...
.
He died in
New Bedford, Massachusetts, February 7, 1885 and was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Notes
References
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grinnell, Joseph
1788 births
1885 deaths
Businesspeople from Massachusetts
American businesspeople in shipping
Politicians from New Bedford, Massachusetts
Whig Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts
19th-century American politicians
19th-century American businesspeople