Jerome Davis Greene

Jerome Davis Greene
Jerome Davis Greene
Born	Template:Birth date; Yokohama, Japan
Died	March 29, 1959 (aged 84)
Occupation(s)	Financier, trustee
Known for	Trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation and Brookings Institution; executive at Lee, Higginson & Co; involvement with Round Table Group and Institute of Pacific Relations

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Jerome Davis Greene, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 2025

Jerome Davis Greene (October 12, 1874 – March 29, 1959) was a prominent American financier and trustee affiliated with influential institutions such as the Brookings Institution and the Rockefeller Foundation.

Family

Greene was born in Yokohama, Japan, to missionary parents Mary Jane Forbes and Rev. Daniel Crosby Greene. His family boasted distinguished connections to figures like diplomat Roger Sherman Greene II, historian Evarts Boutell Greene, and political leaders including Senator and Secretary of State William Maxwell Evarts. His ancestry also featured US Senators George Frisbie Hoar and Roger Sherman Baldwin, along with judicial authorities such as Chief Justice Ebenezer Rockwood Hoar.

Early years

Graduating from Harvard College in 1897, Greene later served as secretary to the university’s president and Corporation from 1901 to 1910. During this period, he cultivated valuable relationships on Wall Street, which led to his appointment as general manager of the Rockefeller Institute between 1910 and 1912. Subsequently, he collaborated closely with John D. Rockefeller in philanthropic endeavors, ultimately becoming a trustee for the Rockefeller Institute, Rockefeller Foundation, and General Education Board until 1939.

Between 1917 and 1932, Greene held executive positions at Boston-based investment bank Lee, Higginson & Co, frequently acting as CEO including overseeing its London office. In 1918, he took on the role of executive secretary for the American division of the Allied Maritime Transport Council in London and was involved with the Round Table Group. The following year, he served as secretary to the Reparations Commission during the Paris Peace Conference, 1919, contributing to the establishment of the New York branch of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Greene is particularly remembered for marketing vast quantities of securities linked to Swedish industrialist Ivar Kreuger. Despite significant personal investments, Greene faced financial devastation following Kreuger’s suicide in 1932. With assistance from Lionel Curtis, he accepted a professorship in international relations at Aberystwyth, Wales (1932–1934), associated with the Round Table Group.

Upon returning to the United States in 1934, Greene resumed his role within Harvard’s Corporation and dedicated himself as a lifelong trustee or officer of numerous organizations including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Gardner Museum, New England Conservatory of Music, American Academy in Rome, Brookings Institution, Rockefeller Foundation, and General Education Board (until 1939). He also directed Harvard’s Tercentenary Celebration in 1936.

Greene played a pivotal role in founding the Institute of Pacific Relations (IPR), drafting its constitution in 1916 and channeling influence from Wall Street into its framework. He served as treasurer and chairman of its American Council and chaired the International Council for four years.

Round table

Greene became engaged with the Round Table Groups, which were semi-secret discussion forums and lobbying entities initiated by Lionel Curtis, Philip Henry Kerr (Lord Lothian), and (Sir) William S. Marris between 1908 and 1911. These groups operated under the direction of Lord Milner, who was the principal Trustee of the Rhodes Trust from 1905 until his death in 1925. Their founding objective was to unify English-speaking nations according to principles set by Cecil Rhodes and William T. Stead, initially funded by the Rhodes Trust. By 1915, Round Table groups had been established in seven countries: England, South Africa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and a loosely organized faction within the United States involving figures such as George Louis Beer and Walter Lippmann. Coordination among these groups was maintained through visits, dialogues, and an anonymous quarterly publication titled The Round Table Journal, first released in November 1910.

Leadership initially rested with Milner until his passing in 1925; thereafter it passed to Curtis (1872–1955), followed by Robert H. (Lord) Brand—brother-in-law to Lady Astor—until 1963, and presently Adam D. Marris, son of Sir William Marris and Brand’s successor as managing director of the bank Lazard Frères. Although intended as collaborative bodies, Milner exerted dominant control over leadership except during 1913–1919 when a subgroup known as the "Ginger Group" coordinated efforts against Wilhelmine Germany. After Milner’s death, leadership responsibilities were shared among members of Milner’s "Kindergarten," young Oxford graduates who had served as civil servants during South Africa’s reconstruction (1901–1910). Brand was the last surviving member; since his death, management has been primarily overseen by The Round Table magazine’s Editorial Committee under Adam Marris.

Initial funding came from Cecil Rhodes' associates—especially the Rhodes Trust—and wealthy patrons such as the Beit brothers and Sir Abe Bailey. After 1915, support expanded to include contributions from the Astor family. Since 1925, significant financial backing has come from affluent individuals and foundations connected to international banking interests notably including the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust along with entities affiliated with J. P. Morgan, the Rockefeller family, the Whitney family, as well as partners linked to Lazard Frères and Morgan, Grenfell & Company.

Summary of roles

Jerome Davis Greene held a partnership at Lee, Higginson & Co. He served as Secretary to the Corporation at Harvard University during two periods (1905–1910 and 1934–1943). Greene was also Joint Secretary for the Reparations Committee at the Paris Peace Conference. His involvement with the Rockefeller Foundation included positions as Secretary and Trustee from 1913 to 1917 and again from 1928 to 1939. Additionally, he chaired the Council of the Institute of Pacific Relations between 1929 and 1932 and was a Trustee of the Brookings Institution from 1928 until 1945.

External links

Family

Early years

Round table

Summary of roles

External links

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