Place of Birth: Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: 1969
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
James Gray is an American film director and screenwriter
He is of Russian Jewish descent, with grandparents from Ostropol (now Ukraine).
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Birth Name: Paul Dominique Laxalt
Place of Birth: Reno, Nevada, U.S.
Date of Birth: August 2, 1922
Ethnicity: Basque
Paul Laxalt is an American politician. A Republican, he served as the 23rd Lieutenant Governor of Nevada, from January 1, 1963 to January 2, 1967, the 22nd Governor of Nevada, from January 2, 1967 to January 4, 1971, a U.S. Senator from Nevada, from December 18, 1974 to January 3, 1987, and General Chairman of the Republican National Committee, from January 28, 1983 to January 23, 1987.
Paul was a candidate for the Republican Party’s nomination for President of the United States in 1988.
Paul is the son of Therese (Alpetche) and Dominique Laxalt. His brother was writer Robert Laxalt. His parents were Basque immigrants from the Pyrénées, a range of mountains between France and Spain.
Paul’s paternal grandfather was Pierre Laxalt (the son of Dominique Laxalt and Marianne Irounegaray). Dominique was the son of Pierre Laxalt and Marianne Dibarburu.
Paul’s paternal grandmother was Marie Etchart (the daughter of Jean Pierre Etchart and Marguerita Erbin). Jean Pierre was the son of Jacques Etchart and Catherine Olharan.
Paul’s maternal grandparents were Jean Bassus and Jeanne Alpetche Bassus.
Source: Paul Laxalt on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Birth Name: Pierre Samuel du Pont IV
Place of Birth: Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.
Date of Birth: January 22, 1935
Ethnicity: English, French, German, 1/64th Ashkenazi Jewish
Pierre S. du Pont IV is an American lawyer and politician. A Republican, he served as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware, from January 3, 1971 to January 3, 1977, and the 68th Governor of Delaware, from January 18, 1977 to January 15, 1985.
Pierre was a candidate for the Republican Party’s nomination for President of the United States in 1988.
Pierre is the son of Jane (Holcomb) and Pierre Samuel du Pont III.
Pierre’s paternal grandfather was of largely French and German descent, along with 1/16th Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. Pierre’s three other grandparents were of mostly Colonial American (English) ancestry.
Pierre’s patrilineal line can be traced back to his great-great-great-great-grandfather, Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours, who was born, c. 1739, in Paris, France. He was a writer, economist, publisher and government official, who moved to the U.S. during the French Revolution in the 1790s, along with his sons, one of whom, Éleuthère Irénée du Pont, a chemist and industrialist, was the U.S. Senator’s great-great-great-grandfather. Éleuthère founded the family company, DuPont, a conglomerate, in 1802, as a gunpowder mill.
Pierre’s paternal grandfather was Lammot du Pont II (the son of Lammot du Pont I and Mary Belin). Pierre’s great-grandfather Lammot, a chemist, was born in Delaware, the son of Alfred Victor Philadelphe du Pont, a prominent chemist and industrialist, who was born in Paris, France, and of Margaretta Elizabeth Lammot. Pierre’s great-grandmother Mary was born in Delaware, and was the daughter of Henry Hedrick Belin and Isabella d’Andelot; Mary was of French, German, and 1/8th Ashkenazi Jewish descent, as her own great-grandfather, Moses Holmberg, is described in most references as a German Jew.
Pierre’s paternal grandmother was Natalie Driver Wilson (the daughter of Andrew Gray Wilson and Natalie Green Driver). Andrew was the son of Elijah Wilson and Anne Gray. Pierre’s great-grandmother Natalie was the daughter of Joshua Edmondson Driver and Mary Jemima Merritt.
Pierre’s maternal grandfather was Frederick Wainwright Holcomb (the son of Henry A./Harry Alonzo Holcomb and Mary Ellet Wainwright). Frederick was born in Chile, to American parents, from Connecticut. Henry was the son of Frederick Alonzo Holcomb and Mary Ann Rogers. Mary Ellet was the daughter of James Ellet Wainwright and Mary Delaney.
Pierre’s maternal grandmother was Dorothy Doolittle (the daughter of Edgar Jared Doolittle and Martha Warner Couch). Edgar was the son of The Rev. Edgar Jared Doolittle and Jane Elizabeth Sage. Martha was the daughter of George Couch and Mary Warner.
Sources: Genealogies of Pierre S. du Pont IV – https://www.geni.com
http://www.pennock.ws
Genealogy of Pierre’s maternal grandfather, Frederick Wainwright Holcomb (focusing on his own mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Genealogy of Pierre S. du Pont IV (focusing on his mother’s side) – http://www.laurenandtristan.net
Birth Name: Lester Don Holt, Jr.
Place of Birth: Marin County, California
Date of Birth: March 8, 1959
Ethnicity:
*African-American (father)
*Afro-Jamaican, English, Indian (mother)
Lester Holt is an American journalist. He anchors NBC Nightly News and Dateline NBC.
Lester is the son of June Marie (DeRozario) and Lester Don Holt, Sr.
His maternal grandparents were from Jamaica. His maternal grandfather was of English and East Indian heritage, as stated in this video.
Lester’s paternal grandparents were likely Samuel Carroll Holt (the son of John Wesley Holt and Ila Lou Spears) and Lity Mary Houston/Hauston (the daughter of Henry Houston and Mollie Hopson). Samuel and Lity were from Tennessee.
Lester’s maternal grandfather was Knut/Canute Fitzherbert DeRozario.
Lester’s maternal grandmother was Iris May Wilson (the daughter of Arthur Edward Woodburn Wilson).
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Birth Name: Julie Suzanne Chen
Place of Birth: Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.A
Date of Birth: January 6, 1970
Ethnicity: Chinese
Julie Chen is an American television personality, news anchor, and producer for CBS.
She was born in Queens, New York City, New York, to Wan Ling and Yen Chun Chen, who are both Chinese.
She can speak Mandarin Chinese.
Julie’s maternal grandparents were Gaw Tong Lou (the son of Lou Rulin) and Tan Lwee. Gaw was born in Penglai, Anxi, Fujian, China.
Sources: http://www.cbs.com
http://www.dailymail.co.uk
Genealogy of Julie Chen (focusing on her mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
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Place of Birth: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Date of Birth: December 8, 1964
Ethnicity:
*Spanish, possibly Filipino and other (father)
*French-Canadian (mother)
Mike Ruiz is a Canadian photographer, television personality, director, spokesperson, model, and actor. He was born in Montréal and raised in Repentigny, Québec.
Regarding his ethnicity, he stated:
My mother is French Canadian and my father is Spanish… [My father’s] great-grandmother was from Spain, but she immigrated to the Philippines. That is where my grandfather was born and raised and then he moved to the U.S., where he married an American woman. That is where my father was conceived… We never spoke Spanish growing up. I know what I know from learning it in school and from being in Miami.
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Place of Birth: Paris, France
Date of Birth: 13 February, 1990
Ethnicity: Senegalese
Mamadou Sakho is a French professional footballer. He plays for Liverpool and the France national team.
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Birth Name: Joy Olasunmibo Ogunmakin
Place of Birth: Frechen, Germany
Date of Birth: September 14, 1980
Ethnicity:
*Yoruba Nigerian (father)
*Romani (mother)
Ayọ is a Nigerian and German singer, songwriter, and actress. She was born in Frechen, near Cologne, Germany, to a Yoruba Nigerian father from the Ondo State, and a Romani mother who was born in Romania.
She considers herself an “AfroGyspy”.
Source: http://www.deutschlandfunk.de (in German)
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Birth Name: Szymon Perski
Date of Birth: 2 August, 1923
Place of Birth: Wiszniew, Poland (now Belarus)
Date of Death: 28 September, 2016
Place of Death: Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer, Tel Aviv, Israel
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Shimon Peres was an Israeli statesman. He served as Prime Minister of Israel, from 22 April, 1977 to 21 June, 1977, 13 September, 1984 to 20 October, 1986, and 4 November, 1995 to 18 June, 1996, and as President of Israel, from 15 July, 2007 to 24 July, 2014. He was also Minister of Transportation, from 1 September, 1970 to 10 March, 1974, Minister of Defence, from 3 June, 1974 to 20 June, 1977, and again from 4 November, 1995 to 18 June, 1996, and Minister of Finance, from 22 December, 1988 to 15 March, 1990.
He won the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize, with Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat.
Prime Minister Peres was born in Wiszniew, Poland (now Belarus), the son of Sara/Sarah (Meltzer) and Yitzhak Gecel/Gitzl Persky/Perski. His father moved to Mandatory Palestine in 1932. The family followed him there in 1934.
Through his father, Prime Minister Peres was a relative of American actress Lauren Bacall, who was born Betty Joan Perske (though he had said that they were not first cousins, as has sometimes been reported).
Prime Minister Peres’ paternal grandparents were Zalman Meir Perski (the son of Yehuda Avraham Perski and Elke) and Shine Yafa. Zalman was born in Vilnius, Lithuania. Yehuda was the son of Hirsch Perski.
Prime Minister Peres’ maternal grandfather was Rabbi Zvi Hirshl Melzer (the son of Moshe Melzer/Meltzer and Mariashka Saladeiche). Rabbi Zvi was murdered in the Holocaust, in 1942. Moshe was the son of Shara.
Prime Minister Peres’ maternal grandmother was Rivka Alte Potashnik Gurevich. Rivka was born in Vishnevo. One of the Prime Minister’s maternal great-great-grandfathers was Chaim ben Yitzchok of Volozhin, an Orthodox rabbi and Talmudist.
Source: Genealogy of Shimon Peres – https://www.geni.com
Place of Birth: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Date of Birth: 11 April, 1987
Ethnicity: Vietnamese
Michelle Phan is an American make-up demonstrator, businessperson, and YouTube personality. She is of Vietnamese descent.
Source: Video of Michelle with her mother – https://www.youtube.com
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Birth Name: Joseph Aloysius Lyons
Date of Birth: September 15, 1879
Place of Birth: Stanley, Tasmania, Australia
Date of Death: April 7, 1939
Place of Death: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Ethnicity: Irish
Joseph Lyons was an Australian politician. He served as Prime Minister of Australia, from 6 January, 1932 to 7 April, 1939. He was also Premier of Tasmania, from 25 October, 1923 to 15 June, 1928, Postmaster-General, from 22 October, 1929 to 4 February, 1931, Leader of the United Australia Party, from 7 May, 1931 to 7 April, 1939, Leader of the Opposition, from 7 May, 1931 to 6 January, 1932, Treasurer of Australia, from 6 January, 1932 to 2 October, 1935, and Minister for Defence, from 20 November, 1937 to 29 November, 1937, among other duties.
Prime Minister Lyons was the son of Ellen (Carroll) and Michael Henry Lyons. His father was born in Woolnorth, Tasmania, to Irish parents. His mother was born in Athy, County Kildare, Ireland.
Prime Minister Lyons’ paternal grandparents were Michael Lyons and Bridget Burke (the daughter of Patrick Burke and Mary Cummings).
Prime Minister Lyons’ maternal grandparents were John Carroll (the son of Patrick Carroll and Bridget Lehy) and Catherine Kelly.
Sources: Genealogy of Joseph Lyons – http://www.wikitree.com
Genealogy of Joseph Lyons (focusing on his mother’s side) – https://www.geni.com
Birth Name: James Henry Scullin
Date of Birth: September 18, 1876
Place of Birth: Trawalla, Victoria, Australia
Date of Death: January 28, 1953
Place of Death: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Ethnicity: Irish
James Scullin was an Australian politician. He served as Prime Minister of Australia, from 22 October, 1929 to 6 January, 1932. He was also Leader of the Labor Party, from 29 March, 1928 to 1 October, 1935, and Leader of the Opposition, from 29 March, 1928 to 22 October, 1929, and again from 6 January, 1932 to 1 October, 1935, among other duties.
Prime Minister Scullin was the son of Ann (Logan) and John Scullin, a railway labourer. His parents were Irish Catholic immigrants, from County Derry, Northern Ireland.
Prime Minister Scullin’s paternal grandparents were Patrick Scullin and Rose Mulholland.
Prime Minister Scullin’s maternal grandparents were Daniel Logan and Nancy MacIevar.
Source: Genealogy of James Scullin – http://www.wikitree.com
Birth Name: Rodrigo Londoño Echeverri
Place of Birth: Calarcá, Quindío, Colombia
Date of Birth: January 20, 1959
Ethnicity: Colombian (Spanish, other)
Timoleón Jiménez is the current Commander in Chief of the rebel group FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). His parents, Arturo Londoño Mejía and Elisa Echeverri Londoño, were first cousins.
Timochenko’s paternal grandparents were Rodrigo Londoño and Efigenia Mejía.
Timochenko’s maternal grandparents were Nicanor Echeverri and Elisa Londoño.
Timochenko’s paternal grandfather Rodrigo and maternal grandmother Elisa were siblings.
Source: http://www.kienyke.com
Birth Name: Benjamin Hunter Winchell
Place of Birth: Atlanta, Georgia
Date of Birth: July 3, 1994
Ethnicity: Polish (paternal grandmother), English, German, Irish, Scottish, more distant Dutch and Welsh, remote Belgian (Walloon)
Ben Winchell is an American actor. He plays the title role in the 2016 film Max Steel.
On his mother’s side, Ben has deep Colonial American roots dating back to the 1600s, including ancestors who settled in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.
Ben’s paternal grandfather was George Hunter Winchell (the son of Clyde Edward Winchell and Emma E. Larkin). Clyde was the son of Lawrence Wuenschel, who was born in Pennsylvania, of German descent, and of Mary Schaeffer, whose parents were German. Emma was the daughter of John Thomas Larkin and Nancy Agnes Pease.
Ben’s paternal grandmother is Barbara Oshnock (the daughter of Anthony Stanley Oshnock and Nell/Nellie J. Yanik). Anthony was born in Pennsylvania, the son of Thomas William Oshnock and Catherine Ksauba/Kashuba/Kasuba, both of whom were also born in Pennsylvania, to Polish parents. Nell was born in Pennsylvania, also to Polish parents, Anthony Yanik and Anna M. Lennik/Levik.
Ben’s maternal grandfather is Gary Burd (the son of Thompson Mount Burd and Kathryn Irma Dickerson). Thompson was the son of Raymond Reed Burd and Emma Irene Bennett. Kathryn was the daughter of Chester Arthur Dickerson and Pearl Cecelia Herbert.
Ben’s maternal grandmother is Terry Galloway (the daughter of The Rev. Chester Archibald “Chet” Galloway and Kathryn Cecelia Terry). The Rev. Chester was the son of Chester Walter Galloway and Anna Whitely. Ben’s great-grandmother Kathryn was the daughter of George Cornell Terry and Catherine Margaret MacDonald.
Sources: Genealogies of Ben Winchell (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.genealogy.com
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
Ben’s paternal great-grandmother, Emma E. Larkin, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Ben’s paternal great-grandfather, Anthony Stanley Oshnock, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Ben’s paternal great-grandmother, Nell/Nellie J. Yanik, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Ben’s maternal grandfather, Gary Burd (through Gary’s brother, Tracy Allen Burd) – http://www.ancestry.com
Obituary of Ben’s maternal great-grandfather, The Rev. Chester Archibald “Chet” Galloway – https://www.newspapers.com
Obituary of Ben’s maternal great-grandmother, Kathryn Cecelia (Terry) Galloway – http://www.findagrave.com
Birth Name: Frank J. Fiorina
Place of Birth: Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Date of Birth: 2 December, 1949
Ethnicity: Italian
Frank Fiorina is an American businessperson. He is married to businessperson Carly Fiorina.
Frank is the son of Jennie (Solomon) and Frank Fiorina.
Frank has described himself as an “Italian boy from Pittsburgh”.
Frank’s maternal grandparents were Rocco Solomon and Maria/Mary. They were both born in Italy.
Sources: Frank’s mother on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Obituary of Frank’s mother – http://www.legacy.com
Place of Birth: Garður, Southern Peninsula, Iceland
Date of Birth: 6 May 1989
Ethnicity: Icelandic
Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir is an Icelandic musician. She is the lead vocalist and guitarist, along with Ragnar “Raggi” Þórhallsson, of the Icelandic indie folk band Of Monsters and Men. She is the daughter of Hilmar Birgisson and Ingibjörg Ásta Unnarsdóttir.
Nanna Bryndís’ paternal grandfather is Birgir Sveinsson (the son of Sveinn Guðmundsson and Nanna Tryggvadóttir). Sveinn was the son of Guðmundur Stefánsson and Þórunn Sigríður Baldvinsdóttir. Nanna Bryndís’ great-grandmother Nanna was the daughter of Tryggvi Matthíasson and Kristín Þórðardóttir.
Nanna Bryndís’ paternal grandmother is Helga Hólmfríður Frímannsdóttir (the daughter of Frímann Sigmundur Þorkelsson and Ósk Þórhallsdóttir). Frímann was the son of Þorkell Árnason and Hólmfríður Ólafía Guðmundsdóttir. Ósk was the daughter of Björn Þórhallur Ástvaldsson and Helga Friðbjarnardóttir.
Nanna Bryndís’ maternal grandfather was named Unnar.
Sources: http://timarit.is
http://www.lions.is
Genealogy of Nanna Bryndís’ father – http://www.eirikur.is
Obituary of Nanna Bryndís’ paternal great-grandfather, Frímann Sigmundur Þorkelsson – http://www.mbl.is
Obituary of Nanna Bryndís’ paternal great-grandmother, Ósk Þórhallsdóttir – http://www.mbl.is
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Birth Name: Jose Marcelo Ejercito
Place of Birth: Tondo, Manila, Philippines
Date of Birth: April 19, 1937
Ethnicity: Filipino (Tagalog)
Joseph Estrada is a Filipino politician and actor. He has served as Mayor of Manila, since June 30, 2013. He previously served as the 13th President of the Philippines, from June 30, 1998 to January 20, 2001. His father, Emilio Ejército y Liza (later Emilio Liza Ejército, Sr.), was a sanitary engineer, from Pagsanjan, Laguna. His mother, Maria “Mary” Antonio Marcelo, was a centenarian, from Malate, Manila. He is married to physician Luisa “Loi” Fernandez Pimentel.
Erap’s paternal grandparents were Telésforo Ejército and Lucina Liza.
Erap’s maternal grandparents were Paulino Marcelo (the son of ? Fernández) and Patrocinia Antonio.
Source: Genealogy of Joseph Estrada – https://www.geni.com
Place of Birth: Long Island, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: April 27, 1962
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Rande Gerber is an American businessperson and model. He is the son of Jewish parents, Ellen and Jordan Gerber. He is married to model and actress Cindy Crawford. Their children are Presley Gerber and Kaia Gerber, who also model.
Rande’s paternal grandparents were Paul Gerber and Stella Alexander (the daughter of Harry Alexander and Sophie Feinberg).
Sources: http://www.people.com
Genealogy of Rande Gerber (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com
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Birth Name: Christopher James Williams
Place of Birth: Tarrytown, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: November 2, 1967
Ethnicity: African-American, along with some English and Welsh, possibly Native American
Chris Williams is an American actor and comedian. He is the brother of model and actress Vanessa L. Williams.
Chris is the son of Helen L. (Tinch) and Milton Augustine Williams, Jr. His parents were both black.
In an interview, a journalist stated that his sister Vanessa’s mixed heritage includes African American, Welsh, and Native American. It is not clear if this Native American ancestry has been documented/verified. Vanessa appeared on the program Who Do You Think You Are? (2011), where she discovered that their great-great-grandfather, David Carll, was a “mulatto” (mixed race) man who avoided slavery and married a white woman (their great-great-grandmother).
Chris’s ancestry is at least 1/32nd English. One of his maternal great-great-great-grandfathers, George Appleford, was born in Surrey, England, in 1802.
Chris’s paternal grandfather was Milton Augustine Williams (the son of John Hill Williams and Mary L. Fields). John was the son of George Williams and Mollie/Molly Turner. Mary L. was the daughter of William A. Fields and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Fields.
Chris’s paternal grandmother was Iris Agnes Carl/Carll (the daughter of Frank S. Carl/Carll and Imogene Jackson). Frank was the son of David Carll and Mary Louisa Appleford, who was white, and whose own father was English. Imogene was the daughter of Henry Titus Jackson and Emiline/Emmaline G. Russell.
Chris’s maternal grandfather was Edward James Tinch (the son of John Wilbur Tinch and Helen Elizabeth Fitzgerald). John was the son of John Tinch. Helen was the daughter of William Fitzgerald and Margaret.
Chris’s maternal grandmother was Doris Catherine Griffen/Griffin (the daughter of Moses George Wilson and Elvira Viola Johnson). Moses George was the son of George Wilson and Frances Duson. Elvira was the daughter of Waldo/Walter Johnson and Fannie/Fanny Cavel/Calvin.
An Ancestry.com DNA test stated that Chris’s sister Vanessa’s genetic ancestry is:
*56% African
——–*23% Ghana
——–*15% Cameroon/Congo
——–*7% Togo
——–*6% Benin
——–*5% Senegal
*44% European
——–*17% British Isles
——–*12% Finnish/Ural/Volga
——–*11% Southern European
——–*4% Spain/Portugal
Chris’s sister Vanessa has said:
Now, I can’t wait to go to Ghana and Cameroon and Togo and Senegal — it’s a great opportunity to see why the customs resonate with you. I love to travel and I love to explore, and I have to admit that I was always jealous of people who knew their cultural background. Both my family and myself came out with light eyes, so obviously there is a recessive gene here. Not knowing what that was just made me very curious.
Sources: Genealogies of Chris Williams – http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com
http://www.geni.com
Chris’s paternal grandmother, Iris Agnes Carl/Carll, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
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Birth Name: Joseph Cooke
Date of Birth: December 7, 1860
Place of Birth: Silverdale, Staffordshire, England
Date of Death: July 30, 1947
Place of Death: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Ethnicity: English, Irish
Joseph Cook was an Australian politician. He served as Prime Minister of Australia, from 24 June, 1913 to 17 September, 1914. He was also Leader of the Opposition, from 17 November, 1908 to 26 May, 1909, 20 January, 1913 to 24 June, 1913, and 8 October, 1914 to 17 February, 1917, Leader of the Anti-Socialist Party, from 17 November, 1908 to 26 May, 1909, and Leader of the Commonwealth Liberal Party, from 20 January, 1913 to 17 February, 1917, among other duties.
Prime Minister Cook was the son of Margaret (Fletcher) and William Cooke, a coalminer.
Prime Minister Cook’s paternal grandfather was Robert Cooke. Robert was born in Ireland. It is not clear if Prime Minister Cook’s paternal grandmother was Irish as well.
Prime Minister Cook’s maternal grandfather was William Fletcher.
Source: Genealogy of Joseph Cook – http://www.wikitree.com