Winthrop Rockefeller

Date of Birth: May 1, 1912

Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.

Date of Death: February 22, 1973

Place of Death: Palm Springs, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, with small amounts of Dutch, German, Welsh, and Irish/Northern Irish

Winthrop Rockefeller was an American politician and philanthropist. A Republican, he served as Governor of Arkansas, from January 10, 1967 to January 12, 1971.

He was a candidate for the Republican Party’s nomination for President of the United States in 1968.

Winthrop was the son of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller (born Abby Greene Aldrich), a socialite and philanthropist, and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (John Davison Rockefeller, Jr.), a philanthropist and businessperson. His parents were both from wealthy, prominent families. His paternal grandfather was business magnate John D. Rockefeller, who founded Standard Oil in 1870, and ran it for almost thirty years. He was a sibling of Abby Rockefeller Mauzé, John D. Rockefeller III, Nelson Rockefeller, Laurance Rockefeller, and David Rockefeller, who were also all businesspeople and philanthropists. Nelson, who was also a politician, was Governor of New York, from January 1, 1959 to December 18, 1973, and Vice President of the United States, from December 19, 1974 to January 20, 1977, among other duties. Winthrop’s son, with his former wife, actress Jievute “Bobo” Paulekiute, was politician Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, who was Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, from November 19, 1996 to July 16, 2006, his death.

On his father’s side, Winthrop was a nephew of Elizabeth Rockefeller Strong; philanthropist and socialite Alta Rockefeller Prentice; and socialite Edith Rockefeller McCormick. On his mother’s side, Winthrop was a nephew of philanthropist and art collector Lucy Aldrich; Richard S. Aldrich, a lawyer and Republican Party politician, who was a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island, from March 4, 1923 to March 3, 1933; and banker and financier Winthrop W. Aldrich, who was Ambassador to the U.K., from February 2, 1953 to February 1, 1957.

Winthrop’s patrilineal line can be traced to Johann Peter Rockefeller, who was born, c. 1681, in Segendorf, Rhineland, Germany, the son of Johann Rockefeller and Elizabeth Margaretha Remagen.

Winthrop’s paternal grandfather was John D. Rockefeller (John Davison Rockefeller, the son of William Avery Rockefeller and Eliza Davison). John was born in Richford, Tioga, New York, and co-founded the Standard Oil Company. William was the son of Godfrey Lewis Rockefeller and Lucy Avery. Eliza was the daughter of John Davison and Sytje/Sycha “Cynthia” Selover.

Winthrop’s paternal grandmother was Laura Spelman Rockefeller (born Laura Celestia Spelman, the daughter of Harvey Buel Spelman and Lucy Henry). Laura was born in Wadsworth, Medina, Ohio, and was an abolitionist, philanthropist, and schoolteacher. Harvey was the son of Samuel Buel Spelman and Laura Seymour. Lucy was the daughter of William Henry and Rachel Frary.

Winthrop’s maternal grandfather was Nelson W. Aldrich (Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich, the son of Anan Evans Aldrich and Abby Ann Burgess). Winthrop’s grandfather Nelson Aldrich was born in Foster, Providence, Rhode Island, and was a prominent Republican Party politician, who was a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island, from March 4, 1879 to October 4, 1881, and a U.S. Senator from Rhode Island, from October 5, 1881 to March 3, 1911. Winthrop’s great-grandfather Anan was the son of Job Aldrich and Jane Jones. Winthrop’s great-grandmother Abby was the daughter of Gideon Burgess and Phebe/Phoebe Williams.

Winthrop’s maternal grandmother was Abby Pearce/Pierce Truman Chapman (the daughter of Francis Morgan Chapman and Lucy Anne Truman). Abigail was born in Connecticut. Francis was the son of Amos Chapman and Amy/Amey Morgan. Lucy was the daughter of Jonathan Truman and Mary Willett/Willet.

Winthrop was a first cousin, twice removed, of actor Matthew Maher. Winthrop’s maternal grandparents, Nelson Wilmarth Aldrich and Abby Pearce/Pierce Truman Chapman, were also Matthew’s maternal great-great-grandparents.

Among Winthrop’s many prominent ancestors is William Brewster (c. 1566-1644), a Mayflower passenger and noted Pilgrim. Among many of William’s other descendants are actors Jordana Brewster, Paget Brewster, Austin Butler, Chevy Chase, Taylor Lautner, Seth MacFarlane, and Elisabeth Shue, actors and models Noah Mills and Brandon Routh, director, producer, screenwriter, and cinematographer Zack Snyder, singer Buffy Sainte-Marie, soccer player Clint Dempsey, and Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld.

Sources: Genealogies of Winthrop Rockefeller – https://www.geni.com
http://www.wikitree.com
http://www.findagrave.com
https://famouskin.com