Henry Grinnell: Solving the Mysteries of Lost Expeditions

Henry Grinnell was an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the mercantile house Grinnell, Mintum & Company. Grinnell was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on February 18, 1799. He started his career with H.D. & E.B. Sewell as clerk.

Grinnell and Sarah Mintum married in 1822. Henry’s brother Joseph was a partner at Fish, Grinnell & Company when he joined the partnership. Later, Henry’s brother-in-law joined the company and was renamed Grinnell, Mintum & Company. The new partnership ventured into general shipping and expanded its operations to become one of New York City’s strongest mercantile houses at that time.

When he retired in 1850, Henry became interested to discover what happened to the Franklin Polar Expedition. He joined Lady Jane Franklin in the pursuit of solving the mystery and promoted and funded a number of expeditions.

Grinnell was also co-founder of the American Geographical and Statistical Society. When he died in 1874, his widow was given a lady’s desk by the British government. The desk was made from timber taken from HMS Resolute, a shipwreck Grinnell helped discover during his lifetime.