Henry Walton Grinnell

Background

Henry Walton Grinnell was born in New York, the United States on November 19, 1843, the son of Henry and Sarah (Minturn) Grinnell.

Education

Henry Walton Grinnell spent three years (1858-1861) at the New York Free Academy (later the College of the City of New York).

Career

After three years (1858-1861) at the New York Free Academy Grinnell entered the United States navy. He was appointed mate, June 1862; acting ensign, November 1862; acting master, 1864; and acting volunteer-lieutenant, 1865.

On board the Monongahela of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, he took part in the battles of New Orleans and Mobile Bay. In the former, on November 18, 1863, he distinguished himself by his command of a landing party which materially aided the army.

After the cessation of hostilities, while serving on the Susquehanna of the Asiatic Squadron, he declined appointment as ensign in the regular navy and was honorably discharged July 25, 1868.

He accepted instead a commission as captain in the Imperial Japanese navy and began to train seamen at the Heigo Naval School.

Almost immediately he was appointed inspector-general with the rank of rear- admiral, and served in that capacity from 1868 to 1870.

In 1872-73 he was naval adviser to the republic of Ecuador. During the following years, although he did not devote his entire attention to the naval affairs of Japan, as trips to the United States show, he retained his commission and helped to develop the seamanship that defeated China.

In the Chino-Japanese War he saw active service at the battle of the Yalu River, the decisive naval engagement of the conflict. When he was honorably discharged at the end of the war, as a vice-admiral, he received a substantial gratuity.

Returning to the United States in time to find his country at war with Spain, he reentered the navy as a volunteer lieutenant and served on board the Iowa until peace was declared.

Thereafter he lived in retirement at Puntarassa, Florida, and Boston.

He died at Saint Augustine, Florida, and was buried at Arlington.

Grinnell carried on his family’s predilection for exploration by making trips into little-known parts of Asia. One of these he described before a meeting of the American Geographical Society at Cooper Union, June 13, 1871.

On board the Monongahela of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, he took part in the battles of New Orleans and Mobile Bay. Trained seamen in Japan, was naval adviser to the republic of Ecuador. He participated in the Chino-Japanese War and at the end of it was honorably discharged as a vice-admiral. Author of “Journey Through Eastern Mantchooria and Korea”.

Achievements

• Henry Walton Grinnell was notable for his military service during the American Civil War, the Spanish–American War and the Sino-Japanese War. He was discharged as an admiral.

Works

• book

  • Autographed Letter Signed
  • Autographed Letter Signed by the Civil War Navy officer who became an

Personality

The paper, entitled “Journey Through Eastern Mantchooria and Korea, ” shows both the traveler’s love of adventure and the explorer’s curiosity concerning native habits and resources.

Connections

He was married, in 1874, at Sydney, Australia, to Louise I. S. Pratt. In June 1910 he was married to Florence G. Roche of Boston.

Father:

Henry Grinnell

Mother:

Sarah (Minturn) Grinnell

1st wife:

Louise I. S. Pratt

2nd wife:

Florence G. Roche