Rockefeller, David (1915– )

US banker and philanthropist. He wrote extensively on banking management, served as a senior executive of family-owned enterprises such as Rockefeller Center Properties, Inc, and, from 1951 to 1970, chaired the Council on Foreign Relations. Deeply involved in philanthropic activities, he headed the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research for many years. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998.

Rockefeller was born in New York City, a member of the famous and powerful family, brother of former New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller. He graduated from Harvard in 1936 and earned a PhD from the University of Chicago four years later. He was secretary to New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia 1940–41, and joined Chase National Bank (now Chase Manhattan) after World War II, rising to be chief executive officer 1969–80 of what was then the nation's second-largest bank. In that capacity, he worked to further US investment in developing countries; in 1981 he became chairman of Chase's International Advisory Committee.

He was said to enjoy beetle collecting as a favourite hobby.