Henry Grinnell was an American merchant who funded several expeditions in search of Sir John Franklin in the 1850s. Grinnell was in close correspondence with Lady Franklin who was determined to uncover the fate of her husband and in 1850 organised a expedition to the Arctic. This was unsuccessful in its search for Franklin, though it did find evidence of his encampment at Beechey Island. In 1853, Grinnell funded a second expedition to be led by Elisha Kent Kane, who had served as senior medical officer during the first voyage.

Kane’s expedition explored part of Ellesmere Island, known as Grinnell Land between 1853 and 1855. However, after his ship Advance became trapped in the ice, the expedition was abandoned.