John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

John Davison Rockefeller, Jr. (January 29, 1874 – May 11, 1960) was a philanthropist and a member of the prominent United States Rockefeller family.

He was the fifth child and only son of John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil, and one of the wealthiest Americans of his time. He attended The Browning School in New York City and then Brown University. He briefly joined his father's business. During the Great Depression he funded the building of Rockefeller Center and as a result became one of the largest real estate holders in New York City. He also acquired a controlling interest in the Chase National Bank when the Bank acquired his Equitable Trust Company.

However, he is most remembered for his philanthropy after he and others in his family created the Rockefeller Foundation and founded Rockefeller University. He also funded the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, and donated the land on which the United Nations headquarters was built.

He had a special interest in conservation, and purchased and donated land for many American National Parks, including Grand Teton (see Snake River Land Company), Acadia, Great Smoky, Yosemite, and Shenandoah.

On October 9, 1901, he married Abby Greene Aldrich, daughter of U.S. Senator Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich of Rhode Island. The couple had six children, a daughter and five sons:

• Abby Rockefeller Mauzé (November 9, 1903 - May 27, 1976)
• John Davison Rockefeller III (March 21, 1906 - July 10, 1978)
• Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (July 8, 1908 - January 26, 1979)
• Laurance Spelman Rockefeller (May 26, 1910 - July 11, 2004)
• Winthrop Rockefeller (May 1, 1912 - February 22, 1973)
• David Rockefeller (born June 15, 1915)

Nelson and Winthrop Rockefeller later became state governors. Nelson went on to become Vice President of the United States.