Fosdick, Raymond B. 1883-1972

Raymond Blaine Fosdick (9 June 1883 – 19 July 1972) was an American lawyer, public administrator and author. He served as the fourth president of the Rockefeller Foundation for twelve years (1936–1948). He was an ardent internationalist and supporter of the League of Nations, standing as its Undersecretary in its provisional organisation before resigning after the U.S. Senate's failure to ratify the Covenant of the League of Nations. After stepping down from his position as Undersecretary, he started his law firm and grew closer to John D. Rockefeller Jr., which would lead to a long and fruitful relationship as a friend and adviser. From his position as a trustee on the board of the Rockefeller Foundation as well as numerous other Rockefeller philanthropies, he moved to being the president of the foundation. Fosdick lead the organisation through the difficult years of World War II before retiring and becoming an author, documenting the history of the foundation and Rockefeller Jr.'s life. Raymond Blaine Fosdick was born on June 9, 1883, in Buffalo, New York, the son of Frank Sheldon Fosdick and Amy Weaver Fosdick. He grew up in a middle class and devoutly religious family. While his older brother Harry went on to become a Baptist clergyman, Raymond grew to question religious teachings, later separating himself from his family's religious beliefs. He grew up in a household that valued literature and learning highly; with the family often gathering around their living room table, as the children chose books to read from their extensive library. This passion for reading was instilled in Raymond from a young age and carried with him into adulthood. He began apprenticing to become a writer and would go on to publish an extensive list of books throughout his life. Raymond was educated at Princeton University where he completed his bachelor's degree in 1905. For his master's degree, Fosdick attended New York Law School, graduating in 1908.