▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 3 8 ▁Pennsylvania ▁g ubern atorial ▁election , ▁but ▁remained ▁active ▁in ▁the ▁conservation ▁movement ▁until ▁his ▁death ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 6 . ▁ ▁Early ▁life ▁and ▁education , ▁ 1 8 6 5 – 1 8 9 0 ▁▁ ▁G iff ord ▁Pin ch ot ▁was ▁born ▁in ▁Sim s bury , ▁Connecticut ▁on ▁August ▁ 1 1 , ▁ 1 8 6 5 . ▁He ▁was ▁named ▁for ▁Hudson ▁River ▁School ▁artist ▁San ford ▁Robinson ▁G iff ord . ▁Pin ch ot ▁was ▁the ▁oldest ▁child ▁of ▁James ▁W . ▁Pin ch ot , ▁a ▁successful ▁New ▁York ▁City ▁interior ▁furn ish ings ▁merchant , ▁and ▁Mary ▁En o , ▁daughter ▁of ▁one ▁of ▁New ▁York ▁City ' s ▁wealth iest ▁real ▁estate ▁developers , ▁Am os ▁En o . ▁James ▁and ▁Mary ▁were ▁both ▁well - connected ▁with ▁prominent ▁Republican ▁Party ▁leaders ▁and ▁former ▁Union ▁gener als , ▁including ▁family ▁friend ▁William ▁T . ▁Sh erman , ▁and ▁they ▁would ▁frequently ▁aid ▁Pin ch ot ' s ▁later ▁political ▁career . ▁Pin ch ot ' s ▁pat ernal ▁grand father ▁had ▁migr ated ▁from ▁France ▁to ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁in ▁ 1 8 1 6 , ▁becoming ▁a ▁merchant ▁and ▁major ▁land owner ▁based ▁in ▁Mil ford , ▁Pennsylvania . ▁His ▁mother ' s ▁mat ernal ▁grand father , ▁El ish a ▁Ph el ps , ▁and ▁her ▁uncle , ▁John ▁S . ▁Ph el ps , ▁both ▁served ▁in ▁Congress . ▁Pin