Joseph Grinnell (politician)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Grinnell was a U.S. Representative
from Massachusetts
, and the brother of Moses Hicks Grinnell.
Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts
, Grinnell completed preparatory studies.
He moved to New York City in 1809, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1815, he aided in establishing the firm of Fish and Grinnell, which later became Grinnell, Minturn & Co
. 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
.
Joseph lived in New Bedford for fifty-six years.
He also traveled in Europe.
He served as president of the First National Bank of New Bedford in 1832.
He served as president of the New Bedford & Taunton Railroad in 1839.
He served as 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 served as president of the Wamsutta Cotton Mills
in 1847.
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.
He resumed his former business activities.
He died in New Bedford, Massachusetts
, February 7, 1885.
He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.
His niece and adopted daughter Cornelia Grinnell married the poet N.P. Willis
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and the brother of Moses Hicks Grinnell.
Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
, Grinnell completed preparatory studies.
He moved to New York City in 1809, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1815, he aided in establishing the firm of Fish and Grinnell, which later became Grinnell, Minturn & Co
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.-History:...
. His two younger brothers, Moses and Henry Grinnell
Henry Grinnell
Henry Grinnell was an American merchant and philanthropist.-Career:In 1818, Grinnell moved to New York City where he became a clerk in the commission house of H.D. & E.B. Sewell. He married Sarah Minturn in 1822. In 1825, Henry joined his brother Joseph Grinnell in Fish, Grinnell & Company...
, became members of the firm in 1825. When Joseph retired in 1828, his place was taken by Robert B. Minturn
Robert Bowne Minturn
Robert Bowne Minturn 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, Flying Cloud.-Family:He was born to a family long prominent in New England and New York shipping...
.
Joseph lived in New Bedford for fifty-six years.
He also traveled in Europe.
He served as president of the First National Bank of New Bedford in 1832.
He served as president of the New Bedford & Taunton Railroad in 1839.
He served as 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 served as president of the Wamsutta Cotton Mills
Wamsutta Company
Wamsutta Company, also known as Wamsutta Mills, was located in New Bedford, Massachusetts, a port known for its whaling ships. The company was named for Wamsutta, the son of an Native American chief who negotiated an early alliance with the English settlers of the Plymouth Colony in the 17th...
in 1847.
Grinnell was elected as a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
to the Twenty-eighth
28th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:Following the 1840 United States Census, Congress reapportioned the House to include 223 seats . During this congress, one House seat was added for the new state of Florida .- Senate :*President: Vacant...
Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Barker Burnell.
He was reelected to the Twenty-ninth
29th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:During this congress, two House seats were added for each of the new states of Texas and Iowa.-Leadership:-Senate:* President: George M. Dallas * President pro tempore: Willie P. Mangum...
, Thirtieth
30th United States Congress
The Thirtieth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1847 to March 3, 1849, during the last two years of...
, and Thirty-first
31st United States Congress
The Thirty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1849 to March 3, 1851, during the last 17 months...
Congresses and served from December 7, 1843, to March 3, 1851.
He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1850.
He resumed his former business activities.
He died in New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
, February 7, 1885.
He was interred in Oak Grove Cemetery.
His niece and adopted daughter Cornelia Grinnell married the poet N.P. Willis
Nathaniel Parker Willis
Nathaniel Parker Willis , also known as N. P. Willis, was an American author, poet and editor who worked with several notable American writers including Edgar Allan Poe and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He became the highest-paid magazine writer of his day. For a time, he was the employer of former...
.