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

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...

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 Moses Hicks Grinnell (March 3, 1803 – November 24, 1877) was a United States Congressman representing New York, and a Central Park Commissioner, Commissioner of New York City's Central Park. Early life Grinnell was born in New Bedford, Ma ...

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 Howland) Grinnell (1765–1837). His siblings included

Henry Grinnell Henry Grinnell (February 18, 1799 – June 30, 1874) was an American merchant and philanthropist. Early life Grinnell was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on February 18, 1799. He was the son of Cornelius Grinnell (1758–1850) and Sylvia ( ...

and

. 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'', arguably the greatest of the clipper ships. His ...

. His two younger brothers, Moses and

, became members of the firm in 1825. When Joseph retired in 1828, his place was taken by Robert B. Minturn. 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 following year its president, resigning that position in 1846, but remaining a director until 1863. He also served as president of the

Wamsutta Mills Wamsutta Mills is a former textile manufacturing company and current brand for bedding and other household products. Founded by Thomas Bennett, Jr. on the banks of the Acushnet River in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 1846 and opened in 1848, Wam ...

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. 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