Laurance Rockefeller Biography

Laurance Rockefeller was an American businessman, venture capitalist, philanthropist and a prominent environmentalist. Born into the wealthy American Rockefeller family, Laurance was the third of the five sons of John Rockefeller and an heir to the massive Standard Oil fortune accumulated by his grandfather. After completing his graduation from the esteemed Princeton University with a degree in philosophy, Laurance studied law for two years from the Harvard Law School until he lost his interest in becoming a lawyer. Subsequently, he became involved in his family business and later inherited his grandfather’s chair at the New York Stock Exchange. In 1940, he became a founding trustee of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and later served in the U.S. Navy during the Second World War. After the war, he entered the field of venture capitalism and became a well-known financier, making a wide range of investments in aviation, resort hotels, electronics, transportation, nuclear equipment, communication, and computers. Hailed a pioneer in the field of venture capital, he was also a lifelong conservationist who effectively balanced his business interests with a dedication to environmental causes. In addition to being an influential figure for three decades in the American conservation movement, he was also a philanthropist who contributed generously towards the development of major healthcare facilities and educational institutions, and received many honors for his efforts.