Yesterday, one hundred and thirty four year after his death, a headstone was unveiled at the grave of John Willis Griffiths, a gifted American naval architect who is often referred to as the “Father of the Clipper Ship.”  Although Griffiths was a brilliant engineer, designer, writer, editor and publisher; he died poor and was buried in an unmarked grave in the Linden Hill United Methodist Cemetery in Queens, NY.  The effort to provide a headstone for Griffith’s grave was spearheaded by Matt Carmel and Melbourne Smith with the sponsorship of the National Maritime Historical Society, assisted by Dr. Larrie D. Ferreiro and Adam Brodsky of the New York Post.  Bruce Johnson, yacht designer and Director of Business Development  for the ‎Brooklin Boat Yard, Front Street Shipyard & Rockport Marine, provided major financial support for the project.

The headstone was designed by Melbourne Smith and is of black marble with a profile of the design considered to be Griffith’s masterpiece, the clipper ship Sea Witch. Below John Willis Griffiths name, profession and dates is a quote from his fellow designer and shipbuilder, Donald McKay. It reads, “You are a Master of your Profession, have no Superior in it.”

See also our previous posts:  John Willis Griffiths — Father of the Clipper Ship and Headstone To Honor Legendary Naval Architect John W. Griffiths.