Dictionary of American Biography, Vol. 8: Grinnell-Hibbard
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Excerpt from Dictionary of American BiographyGrinnell's early connection with the whaling industry had caused him to take great interest in all matters connected with the sea and more par ticularly the arctic regions and their exploration. He had in consequence awaited the return of the Franklin Polar Expedition with more than or dinary anxiety, and when in 1850 over four years had passed and no tidings had been received of it, he bore the entire expense of fitting out two vessels, the Advance and Rescue, which under the command of Lieutenant De Haven, sailed from New York in May of that year in search of the lost explorer. Though the main object of the expedition was not achieved, land was discovered beyond Davis Strait and Baffin Bay which was named Grinnell Land. Undaunted by this fai1~ ure, in 1853 Grinnell placed the Advance at the disposition of Elisha Kent Kane for a second search, contributing assistance in other respects to Kane. Though this second expedition was equally unsuccessful and the Advance was lost, it attained the highest latitude ever reached by a sailing vessel. On later occasions Grinnell manifested his unabated interest in polar explora tions, contributing munificently to the voyage of Isaac I. Hayes to Ellesmere and Grinnell Lands in 1860 and to the Polaris venture of Charles F. Hall in 1871. He was one of the founders and president (1862 — 63) of the American Geographical and Statistical Society and continued actively interested in its prog ress throughout his life. Noted in business for Strength Of character and decision, bordering on obstinacy, in private he was always ready to re spond to appeals for financial assistance for any meritorious Ob j ect. He was consistently reticent as to the extent of his contributions to charitable and other public causes and had an extreme aver sion to publicity....