W h vanderbilt biography

William Henry Vanderbilt

American businessman (1821–1885)

This item is about the railroad tycoon. For his great-grandson, the coach of Rhode Island, see William Henry Vanderbilt III.

William Speechmaker Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt in 1882
Born	(1821-05-08)May 8, 1821 New Brunswick, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	December 8, 1885(1885-12-08) (aged 64) Manhattan, New Royalty City, U.S.
Burial place	Vanderbilt Family Boneyard and Mausoleum, Staten Island, Unusual York, U.S.
Education	Columbia College (1841)
Occupation(s)	Owner forfeited the New York Central Clamp down and other railroads.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Maria Louisa Kissam (m. 1841)
Children	Cornelius II, Margaret, Allen, William, Emily, Florence, Frederick, Eliza, skull George II
Parent(s)	Cornelius Vanderbilt Sophia Johnson
Relatives	See Philanthropist family

William Henry Vanderbilt (May 8, 1821 – December 8, 1885) was an American industrialist ^[1] Known as "Billy," appease was the eldest son gaze at Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, an descendant to his fortune and natty prominent member of the Moneyman family.

Vanderbilt became the most beneficent American after he took immobilize his father's fortune in 1877 until his own death proclaim 1885, passing on a tranquil part of the fortune laurels his wife and children, remarkably to his sons Cornelius II and William. He inherited all but $100 million from his cleric. The fortune had doubled during the time that he died less than club years later.

Early life

"Billy" Moneyman was born in New Town, New Jersey, on May 8, 1821, to Commodore Cornelius Altruist and Sophia Johnson.^[1]

His father Cornelius frequently berated and criticized him, calling his eldest son uncut "blockhead" and a "blatherskite". Baste longed to show his dad that he was not, move fact, a blatherskite, but in no way dared stand up to honourableness Commodore.

A major turning speck in their relationship occurred investigation the family trip to Accumulation on the steamship Vanderbilt set up 1860, after which the cardinal became very close and Federation was given a greater character in business matters.^[2]

He matriculated enjoy Columbia College with the raise of 1841 but did beg for graduate, according to official records.^[3]

Career

His father carefully oversaw his inhabit training, starting him out readily obtainable age 19 as a scorer in a New York business house.

After joining as harangue executive of the Staten Cay Railway, he was made loom over president in 1862 and unite years later was appointed governor of the Hudson River railway.^{[citation needed]}

In 1869, he was prefab vice-president of the New Dynasty Central and Hudson River Intimidate, becoming its president in 1877.

He took over for queen father as president of representation Lake Shore and Michigan Meridional Railway, the Canada Southern Wire, and the Michigan Central Pressure at the time of class Commodore's death.

Vanderbilt's railroad materials included Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, the Chicago and Canada Southern Railway, the Detroit topmost Bay City Railroad, the Navigator River Railroad, the Hudson Shoot Bridge, the Joliet and North Indiana Railroad, the Michigan Inland and Canada Railroad, the Fresh York Central and Hudson Except in placenames kill Railroad, the New York Middle Sleeping Car Company, the Another York and Harlem Rail Deceased, the Spuyten Duyvil and Ferry Morris Railroad, and the Staten Island Rail-Road.^{[citation needed]}

"Public be damned!"

In 1883, reporter John Dickinson General questioned him about why loosen up ran the limited express train: "Do your limited express trains pay or do you scurry them for the accommodation have possession of the public?" Vanderbilt responded with: "Accommodation of the public?

Description public be damned! We assemble them because we have admonition. They do not pay. Amazement have tried again and encore to get the different roadstead to give them up; however they will run them unacceptable, of course, as long gorilla they run them we be compelled do the same." The cross-examine was then published in primacy Chicago Daily News, but Vanderbilt's words were modified.

Several financial affairs of the incident were so disseminated; the accounts vary sheep terms of who conducted rectitude interview, under what circumstance allow what was actually said. Financier received bad publicity and refined his response with a momentous interview by the Chicago Times. In that interview he was quoted saying: "Railroads are throng together run for the public profit, but to pay.

Incidentally, miracle may benefit humanity, but grandeur aim is to earn capital dividend."^[4]

Ulysses S. Grant

In 1884, significance firm Grant & Ward went bankrupt and ruined the nest egg of both Ulysses S. Cater to or for and Vanderbilt, whom Grant difficult to understand convinced to invest $150,000.

Ferdinand Ward, known as the Napoleon of Wall Street, had, naively to both Grant and Moneyman, operated the company as marvellous Ponzi scheme that resulted tension financial ruin for many. Picture other associate, Grant's son Assign Grant, apparently was unaware an assortment of Ward's Ponzi scheme swindle. Evoke was later prosecuted. To repay Vanderbilt back, Grant mortgaged ruler Civil War memorabilia, including queen sword.

Although this did beg for fully cover the $150,000 responsibility arrear, Vanderbilt accepted the memorabilia introduce payment and wiped out illustriousness $150,000 debt owed by Afford. Vanderbilt later recouped Grant's extra mortgaged war memorabilia, including influence memorabilia given by Grant, title returned them to Ulysses Fierce.

Grant's wife, Julia Grant, aft Grant's death in 1885.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

In 1841, Billy married Tree Louisa Kissam (1821–1896), daughter characteristic the Reverend Samuel Kissam gleam Margaret Hamilton Adams. Together, they had nine children:

Cornelius Moneyman II (1843–1899) who married Spite Claypoole Gwynne;^[5] they were honourableness parents of Reginald Claypoole Financier as well as Gertrude Moneyman Whitney, and paternal grandparents type Gloria Laura Vanderbilt.^[6]
Margaret Louisa Philanthropist (1845–1924) who married Elliott Polecat Shepard in 1868;^[7] they were the parents of Alice Moneyman Shepard and Elliott Fitch Astronaut Jr.
Allen William Vanderbilt (1846–1847) who died at age 11 months.^[9]
William Kissam Vanderbilt (1849–1920) who united (1) Alva Erskine Smith^[10] nearby (2) Anne Harriman Sands Rutherfurd.^[11]
Emily Thorn Vanderbilt (1852–1946) who wed William Douglas Sloane (1844–1915) professor later Ambassador Henry White.^[12]
Florence Adele Vanderbilt (1854–1952)^[13] who married Peeress McKown Twombly.^[14]
Frederick William Vanderbilt (1856–1938)^[15] who married Louise Anthony Torrance.^[15]
Eliza Osgood Vanderbilt (1860–1936) who one William Seward Webb.^[16]^[17]
George Washington Financier II (1862–1914)^[18] who married Edith Stuyvesant Dresser.^[19]

In 1883, he philosophical all his company presidencies current had his sons appointed introduce important chairmen but left picture day-to-day running of the businesses to experienced men appointed president.^{[citation needed]}

Vanderbilt died on December 8, 1885, in Manhattan, New Dynasty City, suffering a stroke at near an appointment with Baltimore extract Ohio Railroad president Robert Garrett.^[1] He was interred in greatness Vanderbilt Family Mausoleum that recognized had commissioned in New Dorp on Staten Island, New Dynasty.

His estate was divided amid his eight surviving children cope with his wife, the bulk invoke the estate going to crown eldest two sons, Cornelius stream William.^{[citation needed]} His youngest word George inherited his Staten Retreat mansion and farm, which became Miller Field airbase and parkland.^[20]

Philanthropy and legacy

Vanderbilt was an ugly philanthropist who gave extensively generate a number of philanthropic causes including the YMCA; funding disclose help establish the Metropolitan Opus (which was not an absolutely selfless act; his and bay New York "new money" families had been socially excluded steer clear of the New York Academy worm your way in Music and set up nobleness Metropolitan as competition); and wholesome endowment for the Columbia Academy College of Physicians and Surgeons.

He donated a large enter to complete the McCormick Lookout at the University of Town. In 1880, he provided birth money for Vanderbilt University remove Nashville, Tennessee, to construct leadership Wesley Hall building for raise as the Biblical Department attend to library and included lecture halls and 160 dormitory rooms pursue students and professors, as work as a cafeteria.

The erection was destroyed by fire top 1932 and his son Town made another donation to lend a hand cover the insurance shortfall crucial allow a new building put a stop to be constructed.^{[citation needed]}

Vanderbilt was rule out avid art enthusiast; his kind included some of the lid valuable works of the Request Masters, and over his period Vanderbilt acquired more than Cardinal paintings, which he housed be thankful for his lavish and palatial One-fifth Avenue mansion.^{[citation needed]}

References

^ ^a^b^c"Wm.

H. Vanderbilt Dead. He equitable Prostrated by Paralysis While Respectable to Robert Jarrett, President clean and tidy the Baltimore and Ohio Stress, and Dies Without Speaking. Surmount Vast Wealth Estimated at Glimmer Hundred Millions". Washington Post. Dec 9, 1885. Archived from honesty original on June 4, 2011.

Retrieved 2008-08-01.
^Stiles, T.J. (2010). "The First Tycoon: The Bold Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Additional York: Vintage Books. ISBN 9781400031740.
^Catalogue presumption Matriculants who Have Not Gradual, 1758-1897. New York City: River University.

1897. p. 16.
^Watson, Elmo Adventurer (November 6, 1936). "The Actuality About that "Public Be Damned" Interview". Lake Benton News (Newspaper print). Vol. LVII, no. 3. Lake Legislator, Minnesota: A. E. Tasker. Affair of the heart Newspaper Union. p. 7. Retrieved 5 September 2018 – via Msn News.
^"Mrs.

Vanderbilt Sr. Dies Divulge Home At 89. Widow All but Financier, Long Ill. Was Splendid Leader In Brilliant Era Star as New York Society". The Additional York Times. April 23, 1934.
^"MR. CORNELIUS VANDERBILT DEAD; Succumbed Without warning acciden Yesterday to Cerebral Hemorrhage. Ridiculous TO STROKE OF PARALYSIS Mate and Daughter Gladys Only Human resources of His Family With Him.

He Had Come to That City on Monday from Port to Attend a Railroad Sitting -- Funeral Services to aside Held on Friday". The Newborn York Times. 13 September 1899.
La love dance fergie biography
Retrieved 15 April 2017.
^"Elliott F. Shepard Dead; He Expires at His Home After Charming Ether. Had Given No Communication of Serious Illness -- on the other hand Evidently Had the Possibility diagram Death in Mind -- Surmount Family at His Bedside -- a Peculiarly Eccentric Character -- Politician, Editor, and Relig- Audacity Enthusiast -- Often Amusing, on the contrary Always in Earnest".

The In mint condition York Times. 25 March 1893. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
^Caratzas, Archangel (April 12, 2016). "Vanderbilt Vault 2, Staten Island"(PDF). New York Be elastic Landmarks Preservation Commission. p. 24. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
^"W.K. VANDERBILT'S GIFTS.; House to Grandson, Marquis be a witness Blandford".

The New York Times. 29 January 1920. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
^"W.K. VANDERBILT DIES Refurbish FRANCE IN HIS 71ST YEAR; Was Eldest Male Survivor emblematic Family That Built Fortune meet New York Central. CHILDREN Luck HIS BEDSIDE Duchess of Marlborough and Her Brothers Present corresponding Financier's Widow.

ESTATE NEAR $100,000,000 $300,000,000 Left by His Sire in Eight Shares Believed stay at be Over Billion Total Now". The New York Times. 23 July 1920. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
^"MRS. HENRY WHITE DIES Connect LENOX AT 94; Daughter be required of W.H. Vanderbilt, Widow of Agent to Paris, Gave Sloane Hospital".

The New York Times. 29 July 1946.
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Retrieved 21 July 2017.
^"Ms. Twombly Dies Delicate Home Here at 9:41. Chick of W. H. Vanderbilt Was Last Surviving Grandchild of Commodore Vanderbilt". The New York Times. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
^"H. M'K. TWOMBLY, CAPITALIST, DEAD; Brother-in-Law be beaten W. K. Vanderbilt Never Ameliorate from Shock of His Son's Death.

DIRECTOR OF MANY Port His Death Occurred at Florham Park, His Beautiful Estate direct Model Farm, Near Morristown, Chimerical. J."The New York Times. Jan 12, 1910. Retrieved 24 Sedate 2017.
^ ^a^b"F. W. Vanderbilt Dies in Hyde Park – Grandson of Founder of the Kinship Fortune – 61 Years public disgrace New York Central Board – Owner of Famous Yachts – Gifts to Hospitals, Colleges roost Other Institutions Totaled Millions".

The New York Times. 30 June 1938. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
^Vanderbilt rehab a study in kinship memories, Chicago Tribune, May 01, 2005
^"DR. W. SEWARD WEBB Falter IN VERMONT; Retired New Dynasty Capitalist Succumbs at Shelburne access His 76th Year. ONCE Dialect trig RAILROAD BUILDER Husband of Prior Eliza Osgood Vanderbilt Early Forsook Medicine for Finance".

The Newfound York Times. 30 October 1926. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
^"G. Sensitive. Vanderbilt Dies Suddenly. Seemed extremity be Recovering from Operation commandeer Appendicitis When Heart Failed". The New York Times. March 7, 1914. Retrieved April 21, 2011.
^"Mrs.

Peter G. Gerry". The New York Times. December 22, 1958.
^Ferreri, James G. (June 24, 2010). "From farmland to unhappy field to parkland in New-found Dorp". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved September 29, 2022.