Profile: Henry Grinnell

Abstract Henry Grinnell (1799–1874), a wealthy American businessman, was a leading protagonist of 19th century American Arctic exploration. Despite his considerable influence, little has been written about his life. He never visited the Arctic, but sponsored important expeditions of the Franklin sea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Record
Main Author: Cruwys, Liz
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1991
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400012237
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400012237
Description
Summary:Abstract Henry Grinnell (1799–1874), a wealthy American businessman, was a leading protagonist of 19th century American Arctic exploration. Despite his considerable influence, little has been written about his life. He never visited the Arctic, but sponsored important expeditions of the Franklin search, financing expeditions under Edwin De Haven 1850–51, Elisha Kent Kane 1853–55 and Charles Francis Hall 1860–62 and 1865–69. He supported also American attempts on the North Pole by Isaac Israel Hayes in 1860–61 and Hall in 1871–73. This article deals mainly with Grinnell's influence on polar affairs other than Franklin search expeditions, which were discussed in an earlier article.