John N. A. Griswold


John Noble Alsop Griswold was an American China trade merchant, industrialist, and diplomat.

Early life

Griswold was born in New York City on May 29, 1822. He was the son of George Griswold, who invested heavily in land speculation, and his second wife, Maria Matilda Griswold. Among his siblings was brother George Griswold Jr., and four sisters, Maria Griswold, Sarah Helen Griswold, Cornelia Woodhull Griswold, and Matilda Elizabeth Griswold.
His paternal grandfather was Nathaniel Griswold, a member of the Connecticut branch of the Griswold family who moved to New York City in 1796. His paternal aunt, Catherine Anne Griswold, was married to Pierre Lorillard III, making Pierre Lorillard IV, Catherine Lorillard Kernochan, Mary Lorillard Barbey, George Lyndes Lorillard, and Eva Lorillard Kip his first cousins.

Career

His father and uncle, Nathaniel Lynde Griswold, founded the N.L. & G. Griswold Company to import sugar and rum from the Caribbean on clipper ships. Eventually, they expanded to the China Trade, capturing a large share of the 19th century tea market. The firm was referred to as "the great New York mercantile house of N.L. & G. Griswold, known to their rivals as "No Loss and Great Gain Griswold," importers of rum, sugar, and tea."
In 1847, Griswold traveled to the Far East and, within a year, was appointed United States consul at Shanghai, serving in that role until 1854.
Upon his return to America, he helped develop several prominent railroads, serving as president of the Illinois Central Railroad and chairman of the board of directors of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. He was a Vice President in China of the Medical Missionary Society.
After moving to Newport, Griswold used his influence to encourage local development of land and businesses including the Newport and Wickford Steamboat and Railroad Company, and the Newport Casino. He acquired commercial wharves, large holdings on Coggeshall and Bellevue Avenues, and the Berkeley Block.

Personal life

On February 29, 1860, Griswold was married to Jane Louisa Emmet at St. Mark's Church in New York City. Jane, who grew up at Morea in Charlottesville, Virginia, was the daughter of Mary Byrd Emmet and John Patten Emmet, the first professor of natural history at the University of Virginia who was a son of Thomas Addis Emmet and nephew of Robert Emmet, the advocate for Irish independence. Her brother was Dr. Thomas Addis Emmet, a prominent gynecological surgeon and author, and William Jenkins Emmet, father of painter Lydia Field Emmet. Together, they were the parents of:
In 1863, the Griswold's moved to Newport, Rhode Island where he commissioned what is today known as the John N. A. Griswold House, located at 76 Bellevue Avenue. It has served as the home of the Newport Art Museum since the early 1960's. Griswold had purchased the lot from Rowland R. Hazard Jr. and Margaret E. Hazard of Newport on November 25, 1862. While the home was being built, they lived at Kingscote. The Griswold home was designed by Richard Morris Hunt and is one of the earliest American Stick style buildings.
His wife died at 129 West 59th Street, their New York residence, on January 19, 1909. Griswold died several months later at his home in Newport on September 18, 1909. He was buried at Island Cemetery in Newport. His estate was reportedly valued in excess of $25,000,000.

Descendants

Through his eldest daughter, he was the grandfather of Gordon Forbes, John Griswold Forbes, Janet Forbes, Howell Forbes, and John Murray Forbes.