John Willis Griffiths — Father of the Clipper Ship

In June, we posted about the upcoming unveiling of a headstone for the brilliant, but largely forgotten, American naval architect John Willis Griffiths. This Saturday, July 23rd, the National Maritime Historical Society will unveil the headstone at Griffiths’ previously unmarked grave in Queens at the Linden Hill United Methodist Cemetery at 10:30 am.  Griffiths was a pioneer in both sail and steam, a designer, a shipbuilder, a hydrodynamicist, a writer and an editor. Of all his accomplishments he is best remembered as the father of the clipper ship. Here is a short documentary honoring Griffiths, done to raise money for the new headstone, narrated by Captain Matt Carmel.


Honoring A Life – John Willis Griffiths

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John Willis Griffiths — Father of the Clipper Ship — 1 Comment

  1. I do not find a direct relation between John Willis Griffiths and Maurice Griffiths, but does anybody know of an older genealogical connection? I own his 1939 2 1/2 tonner design built in Essex, so am curious if it might have an even more interesting pedigree.