Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt (May 27, 1794 – January 4, 1877)[1] was an American businessman, philanthropist, and slave owner.[2] A lot of his wealth came from railroads and shipping.[3][4]
Cornelius Vanderbilt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | May 27, 1794 |
| Died | January 4, 1877 (aged 82) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Railroad/Water transport businessman, philanthropist |
| Spouse(s) |
|
| Children |
|
| Parent(s) |
|
| Relatives |
|
| Signature | |
 | |
He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family. He was one of the richest Americans in history. He provided the initial gift to found Vanderbilt University, which is named in his honor.
Vanderbilt died on January 4, 1877 in New York City, New York from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), aged 82.[3]
Vanderbilt was worth more than $100 million at the time of his death (equivalent to approximately $2,094,093,750 in 2024 dollars).[5]
Cornelius Vanderbilt Media
C. Vanderbilt, Hudson River steamer owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt (oil on canvas by James and John Bard)
Portrait of Vanderbilt by Nathaniel Jocelyn in 1846
A map of Nicaragua in 1856.
Cornelius Vanderbilt versus James Fisk Jr. in a famous rivalry with the Erie Railroad
Looking out the north end of the Murray Hill Tunnel towards Grand Central Depot in 1880; note the labels for the New York, Harlem and New York, and New Haven Railroads; the New York Central and Hudson River was off to the left. The two larger portals on the right allowed some horse-drawn trains to continue further downtown.
Grand Central Terminal below the MetLife Building in New York City, New York in 2012
Vanderbilt in his final years.
Vanderbilt family mausoleum at the Moravian Cemetery on Staten Island, where Cornelius is buried
Statue at the modern Grand Central Terminal
Physician Jared Linsly testifying as to the mental and physical condition of Cornelius Vanderbilt during court proceedings surrounding the challenge to his will. From an 1877 illustration in Harper's Weekly.
.jpg)
References
- ↑ Commodore Vanderbilt's Life. January 5, 1877. https://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9E01E2D7133AE63BBC4D53DFB766838C669FDE.
- ↑ "9 White Celebs, World Leaders Whose Families Owned Slaves". Atlanta Black Star. 2013-08-22. Retrieved 2020-11-04.
Anderson Cooper was connected, in a familial way, to slavery. His bloodline is tied to the Vanderbilts, one of the richest families in American history. Cooper's great-great-grandfather, Cornelius Vanderbilt – who was also Cooper's cousin through inbreeding – was a tycoon who built his wealth from shipping and railroads. He also owned plantations: one, in particular, was in Georgetown, S.C., where Michelle Robinson Obama's ancestor Jim Robinson, who was born a slave in 1850, worked.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Cornelius Vanderbilt.; A Long And Useful Life Ended. The Renowned Commodore Dies After Eight Months' Illness His Remarkable Career As A Man Of The World His Wealth Estimated At $100,000,000 Particulars Of His Illness And Death". The New York Times. January 5, 1877. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1877/01/05/80358540.pdf.
- ↑ Commodore Vanderbilt's Life. January 5, 1877. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1877/01/05/80358542.pdf.
- ↑ Klepper, Michael; Gunther, Michael (1996). The Wealthy 100: From Benjamin Franklin to Bill Gates—A Ranking of the Richest Americans, Past and Present. Secaucus, New Jersey: Carol Publishing Group. p. xi. ISBN 978-0-8065-1800-8. OCLC 33818143.
Other websites
Media related to Cornelius Vanderbilt at Wikimedia Commons
This short article about a person from the United States can be made longer. You can help Wikipedia by adding to it.