[6] His maternal grandfather was Charles Frederick Berwind, founder of the Berwind-White Coal Mining Company.

His aunt, Frederica, was the wife of banker Henry Herman Harjes, J.P. Morgan's partner in France.

"[11] He was elected chairman of the United States Polo Association in 1936 and retained the post for two decades until 1950 when he was succeeded by Devereux Milburn.

Beginning in 1942, Strawbridge was partner of the former New York investment banking firm of Reynolds, Fish & Company.

During World War II, he was a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy Reserve assigned to duty with the Office of Strategic Services in London and Washington.

On August 15, 1931, Strawbridge was married to Miss Porter's School alumnus Florence Julia Loew (1901–1972) at Trinity Church in Newport, Rhode Island.