Samuel B. Griffith

Samuel Blair Griffith II (May 31, 1906 – March 27, 1983) was a brigadier general in the United States Marine Corps, a decorated combat veteran, and a distinguished scholar of Chinese military history. Griffith is known for his translations of The Art of War by Sun Tzu and On Guerrilla Warfare by Mao Zedong, as well as his combat service. He fought in the Battle of Guadalcanal during World War II, suffered wounds, and became Executive Officer of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion. For his valor on the battlefield, Griffith earned the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross, and the Purple Heart. After his retirement, he earned a PhD in Chinese Military History from the University of Oxford in 1961.

His academic work is recognized for pioneering Western strategic studies and advancing the understanding of Chinese military thought, with his translations widely disseminated in the required and recommended reading lists of U.S. military staff colleges. His personal papers are regarded by the Marine Corps as valuable primary sources on the history of the branch, the Pacific War, and U.S.-China relations.

Griffith died on March 27, 1983, in Newport, Rhode Island.