Business & brands / Politics
Stephen Benedict Grummond
1834–1894 · shipowner, marine industrialist, mayor of Detroit
St. Clair River sailor who built a Great Lakes shipping empire from Detroit, including the largest tug and wrecking business on the lakes, and was mayor in 1884–1885.
- Born
Marine City, Michigan- Died
Detroit, Michigan
aged 59- Also known as
- S. B. Grummond
- Detroit years
- 1855–1894
- Field
- Business & brands, Politics
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Stephen B. Grummond grew up in Marine City on the St. Clair River, sailing on merchant ships in summer from the age of fifteen and going to school in winter. With his savings and help from his father he bought a vessel of his own, and in 1855 he sold it, moved to Detroit and began buying, selling and running ships. He founded Grummond's Mackinac Line of steamers and at one point owned the largest tugboat and wrecking business on the Great Lakes, which salvaged stranded and sunken vessels; he also expanded into barges, lumber and Detroit real estate. First a Democrat, he joined the Republicans when the party formed. He was elected to the Board of Estimates in 1879 and the City Council in 1881, and in 1883 narrowly won the mayor's office, serving in 1884–1885. He lost a close re-election race to Marvin H. Chamberlain and died at his Detroit home in 1894.
Highlights
- Mayor of Detroit, 1884–1885
- Owned the largest tug and wrecking business on the Great Lakes
- Founder of Grummond's Mackinac Line of steamers
- Detroit City Council member from 1881