The family traces its wealth back to the East India Company and political connections to the Lord Mayor of London in the 16th century.

Upon migrating to England's North American colonies the family established strong political roots in Massachusetts.

Saltonstall ran for the U.S. House in a 1969 special election to succeed the deceased William H. Bates from the 6th Massachusetts district, but lost to Democrat Michael J.

[2] Saltonstall chose to leave politics citing "family issues," but news reports at the time suggested Mr. Saltonstall chose to exit the public stage so he would not be required to disclose details of the family's trust, which would have been required under newly passed ethics legislation.

On a Friday evening in January 2009, after returning home from dinner with his wife, Saltonstall died "of an apparent heart attack or blood clot".