Botanist, conchologist and physician, he was elected a member of the Academy in 1815 and served on various Academy committees, being vice president at the time of his death. He acted as a member of the Committee on the Organization of the Scientific Corps, U. S. Exploring Expedition, 1838-42 and also reported on botany for Lt. Wm. F. Lynch's Dead Sea Expedition, 1847. His collections and library were bequeathed to the Academy. These papers consist of two letters by Griffith, a transcript in his hand of William Swainson's “A treatise on malacology,” 1840 and biographical materials, one piece being a typed sketch by James A. G. Rehn.