born June 12, 1915, New York, N.Y., U.S.
U.S. banker and philanthropist.
He was the grandson of John D. Rockefeller and brother of Nelson Rockefeller . After earning a Ph.D. in economics at the University of Chicago (1940) and serving in World War II (194245), he joined the staff of the Chase National Bank of New York in 1946. He became senior vice president in 1952 and effected the merger with the Bank of Manhattan Co. that resulted in the Chase Manhattan Bank (1955); he served as the bank's chairman of the board from 1969 to 1981. His speciality was international banking, and he was a familiar figure to ministers and heads of state of various countries around the world.