Nelson Rockefeller was an American businessman and politician who served as the 41st U.S. Vice President of the United States, from 1974 to 1977, in the administration of Gerald Ford. Born into the famous American Rockefeller family, Nelson was an heir to Standard Oil Co. Inc., the largest oil refiner in the world of its time. Despite his family's great wealth, Nelson’s father tried to inculcate the values of modesty and restraint in the young Nelson. After attending the Lincoln School, Nelson went to the Dartmouth College where he majored in economics, and sporadically worked to earn money. Upon completing his graduation, Nelson worked in a number of family businesses. Simultaneously, he entered into politics and served as the member of the Westchester County Board of Health. In the later years, Nelson moved in and out of government acquiring secretarial roles in the administrations of both, Harry Truman and the Dwight Eisenhower. Then, he ran for governor of the state of New York and was elected four times successively to the post, serving from 1959 to 1973. In the meantime, he made several bids for the presidency but failed in his attempts. In addition to being a remarkable statesman, Nelson was also a leading philanthropist and an outspoken supporter of the civil rights movement. Driven by a desire to serve his country, he founded his own non-profit organization to support development and also advocated civil rights using his position. Later, he served as the 41st Vice President of the United States in the Republican administration of Gerald Ford, and then retired to private life.