(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ++++ The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to ensure edition identification: ++++ Illustrated Catalogue Of The Notable Paintings Clement A. Griscom Amer. Art Assoc., 1914 Paintings
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Clement Acton Griscom was born in Philadelphia, the United States on March 15, 1841, was the son of Dr. John D. Griscom, a prominent physician, and Margaret (Acton) Griscom, and was descended from Andrew Griscom who settled in New Jersey in 1680.
Clement Acton Griscom was educated in the public and private schools of Philadelphia, graduating from the Friends’ Academy in 1857 at the age of sixteen.
In 1860 Clement Acton Griscom started in business as a clerk with the importing firm of Peter Wright & Sons of Philadelphia, and three years later he was admitted to partnership in the firm.
Displaying those talents which later distinguished him, he prevailed upon the firm to purchase their own sailing ships, which proved very profitable.
Later, as steam came into general use, the firm purchased more vessels and placed him in charge of this phase of the business.
In the meantime he had taken up the study of marine architecture especially in its application to the development of the merchant marine.
Through his efforts Peter Wright & Sons became the agents of the American Steamship Company, operating between Philadelphia and Liverpool, which was organized in 1871 and controlled by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
In the same year the firm became the agents for the International Navigation Company, of which Griscom was made vice-president and in 1888 was elected president.
The ships of the International Navigation Company, generally known as the Red Star Line, operated under a Belgian charter (the Société Anonyme Belge- Américaine).
In 1884 the company bought the ships of the American Steamship Company (the American Line) and in 1886 the Inman Line was purchased from the British owners.
It was at this time that Griscom’s training in marine construction came to the fore since he felt that vessels with new improvements were necessary for the prestige of his company.
He therefore developed his idea of a vessel with twin screws, transverse bulkheads, and water-tight compartments, which were all revolutionary steps in ship-building.
The steamships City of New York and City of Paris were built with these innovations and became models for later vessels constructed by his own and other companies.
Soon afterward he had two additional vessels built, the St. Louis and St. Paul, in which he developed another improvement, the construction of staterooms in suites.
For many years Griscom had planned on eventually bringing most of the large steamship companies in the transatlantic trade under one head, but it was not until 1902 when he associated himself with J. P. Morgan that the International Mercantile Marine Company was formed and the International Navigation Company merged into it.
This brought under one ownership and management five large transatlantic lines whose aggregate fleet comprised 136 vessels with a tonnage of 1, 034, 884.
His other interests were varied.
In 1887 he was one of the delegates representing the United States at the International Maritime Conference for revising the rules of the road at sea, which met at Washington.
Clement Acton Griscom served as president of the International Mercantile Marine Company. Griscom was also a director or officer in numerous banks, railroads, and industrial concerns. For many years he made earnest efforts to secure Congressional action in the interests of the American Merchant Marine and greatly regretted that, for operating reasons, it was impossible to have all of the ships of the International Mercantile Marine Company under the American flag.
(This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. T...)
Clement Acton Griscom was for several years a member of the board of Trustees of the City Ice Boats of Philadelphia.
Clement Acton Griscom was a man of pleasing personality and made friends with ease. He also was possessed of tremendous capacity for work and often stayed at his desk for eighteen hours at a stretch.
On June 18, 1862, Clement Acton Griscom was married to Frances Canby Biddle of Philadelphia.
