Clarkson Atwood Cranmer was born on February 7, 1895 in Somerville, New Jersey, the son of Rev. William S. Cranmer and Abbie Atwood. He received his early education in the public schools and in 1916 graduated from Rutgers College with a Bachelor of Arts. He enlisted in the United States Navy in May 1917. After a period of instruction, he was assigned to duty at Queenstown, England, where he saw active service with the American subchaser flotilla. He mustered out of active service on January 2, 1919 and out of the United States Naval Reserve on May 8, 1921.

Cranmer studied law at the Newark Law School and was admitted to the New Jersey bar in February 1920. He formed a partnership with H. K. Gaston under the firm name Gaston & Cranmer and they practiced law in Somerville, New Jersey. He was a member of the Somerset County Bar Association and the New Jersey State Bar Association.

On March 30, 1921, he married Margaret Lord (1894-1948) and they had a daughter, Sarah Abigail (born 1923). He died in Somerville, New Jersey on December 14, 1954.

Harold I. Chapelle was a well-known maritime historian and author, as was Marion Vernon Brewington. Mr. Brewington once served as Curator of Maritime History at the Peabody Museum of Salem, and published several books on maritime art and history. Charles G. Davis was a maritime historian, naval architect, author, and ship model builder.