Inactive Defunct Jerome J. Collins (1841–1881) was an Irish-American journalist, meteorologist and civil engineer, who was the founder of the Irish republican organization Clan na Gael in the United States.

Collins moved away from active involvement with Clan na Gael in the 1870s as it became more militant, but remained close to its leaders John Devoy and William Carroll.

At Bennett's request, Collins was appointed as meteorologist, correspondent and chief scientist for the expedition in charge of maintaining the various scientific apparatuses on the ship.

De Long being a naval man saw the civilians like Collins on the ship as "unnecessary accessories" and was incensed that he was not granted deference from the very independently spirited journalist, who he believed defied authority.

They received a grand public funeral in New York on February 22, 1884, Collins body was returned to County Cork, Ireland and buried in Curraghkippane Cemetery in March 1884.

Daniel Collins used influence to have a second congressional hearing in order to clear his brother's name, but the results of this upheld the findings of the earlier inquiry.

On September 30, 1890, the US congress awarded Jerome J. Collins a Congressional Gold medal, along with the other officers, both living and dead, who had taken part in the expedition.