Joseph Grinnell (politician)

Joseph Grinnell ( born November 17 1788 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, † February 7, 1885 ) was an American politician. Between 1843 and 1851 he represented the state of Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Career

Joseph Grinnell was the older brother of Congressman Moses Hicks Grinnell (1803-1877) from the state of New York. He attended the common schools. In 1809 he came to New York City where he worked in the trade. There he founded in 1815 the company Grinnell, Minturn & Co., of his brothers Moses and Henry joined in 1825. Later he returned to New Bedford. In 1832 he became president of the First National Bank of New Bedford and 1839 he was also president of the railway company, New Bedford & Taunton Railroad Co. Until 1863, he held senior positions with the Boston and Providence Railroad, where he was now also president. In 1847, he was also head of the cotton mill Wamsutta Cotton Mills.

Politically, Grinnell joined the Whig party to. From 1839 to 1841 he served on the senior staff of the Governor. After the death of Mr Barker Burnell Grinnell was in the overdue election for the tenth seat of Massachusetts as his successor in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington DC chosen, where he took up his new mandate on December 7, 1843. After three re- elections he could remain until March 3, 1851 Congress. In this time fell to the Mexican -American War and the Compromise of 1850, which should defuse the debate about the issue of slavery, but the opposite resulted.

In 1850, Joseph Grinnell gave up another candidacy. After the end of his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, he continued his previous activities. He died on February 7, 1885 in New Bedford.