Cornelius vanderbilt ii november 11, 1843 september 12, 1899 was an american socialite, businessman, and a member of the prominent united states vanderbilt family. Sep 27, 2017 cornelius ii was chairman of the new york central railroad and taught sunday school at st. Cornelius vanderbilt spent little of his long life fretting over his image. But stiles new book demands high praise and unreserved recommendation to any readers who enjoy good history, colorful life stories and well written and compelling narrative. Cornelius vanderbilt, byname commodore vanderbilt, born may 27, 1794, port richmond, staten island, new york, u. He was later reburied in a tomb in the same cemetery constructed by his son billy. The epic life of cornelius vanderbilt, which won a national book award and a pulitzer prize in 2010. Stiless whacking new biography of cornelius vanderbilt moves. Cornelius vanderbilt was born on may 27, 1794 in staten island, new york, to cornelius van derbilt and phebe hand. The vanderbilt story, his times, and stiles fine writing make this long history pulse with the cant put it down quality of a great mystery. The lives of john jacob astor, cornelius vanderbilt, andrew carnegie, john d.
His parents were dutch although their familys history can be traced back to immigrants who settled the colony of new netherlands in 1650. New book traces history of biltmore estate, americas last. Lessons in life and business from cornelius vanderbilt. Thompson associate professor and the cornelius vanderbilt chancellor faculty fellow of black homiletics and liturgics. Stiles winner of the pulitzer prize and the national book award. Johns park, west side highway, west side improvement south bronx and the days of new american aristocracy post author by bowery boys. Cornelius vanderbilt was born on may 27, 1794, in port richmond, staten island, new york, to cornelius van derbilt, a seaman, and his wife, phebe hand. Humbly born on staten island during george washingtons presidency, he rose from boatman to builder of. Jun 17, 2019 another vanderbilt cottage in newport, marble house was the summer home of cornelius s brother, william kissam vanderbilt, who gifted it to his wife, alva, for her 39th birthday in 1892. Three of his daughters and son, cornelius jeremiah vanderbilt, contested the will on the grounds that their father was of unsound mind. Gloria vanderbilt and son anderson cooper leave nothing. Befitting his reputation, vanderbilt demanded the nimrod be stronger and faster than the others. New book traces history of biltmore estate, americas. In the mid 19th century, financier cornelius vanderbilt named a steamboat nimrod to compete with other commuter boats on new yorks hudson river.
Founder of a dynasty, builder of the original grand central, creator of an impossibly vast fortune, cornelius commodore vanderbilt is an american icon. He was also the patriarch of the vanderbilt family. Following the death of one of his eight siblings, vanderbilt, at age 11, dropped out of school and began working on his fathers ferry in new york harbor. Born in a time when vast portions of the country had yet to be connected in a national economy, he was able to fund the creation of railroads that brought commerce across the country and remain fundamental assets in our economy to this day. Their success began with the shipping and railroad empires of cornelius vanderbilt, and the family expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthropy.
Another vanderbilt cottage in newport, marble house was the summer home of corneliuss brother, william kissam vanderbilt, who gifted. Cornelius vanderbilt may 27, 1794 january 4, 1877 was an american business magnate who built his wealth in railroads and shipping. People know four things about cornelius vanderbilt. He had many siblings but most of them died at a young age.
Thompson, a native of cedar grove, nc, is associate professor and the cornelius vanderbilt chancellor faculty fellow of black homiletics and liturgics at the divinity school and graduate department of religion of vanderbilt university. Atwood of the prestigious herter brothers firm to design and. The epic life of cornelius vanderbilt is an impressive and fascinating biography, wonderfully evocative of the quiet man with enormous power, influence and wealth. Vanderbilt, cornelius new york public library digital collections. After working with his fathers business, vanderbilt worked his way into leadership positions in the inland water trade and invested in the rapidly growing railroad industry. Commodore cornelius vanderbilt, i 1794 1877 genealogy. Vanderbilt began his transportation empire by operating a ferryboat between staten island and new york city. The epic life of cornelius vanderbilt is a 2009 biography of cornelius. Print collection topics public figures vanderbilt, cornelius, 17941877 genres clippings. No doubt the naming of the ship reflected this too.
She was born april 15, 1767 in rahway, essex county, new jersey, the daughter of samuel hand and phebe lum. This is a very well researched and written book, and apart from telling the story of cornelius vanderbilt himself, it is a fascinating history of the united states in the nineteenth century, the early days of steam paddle boats and railways, the civil war, and the foundation of the us dollar, corporations, corruption in government and much more. The latest from renehan, author most recently of a muchpraised biography of another titan of 19thcentury business, jay gould, is a thorough look. Anderson cooper, a prominent journalist, cnn anchor and bestselling author who often reports from around the world, will be at vanderbilt university for a chancellors lecture on sunday, march 29. Manuscripts and archives division, the new york public library. In our first episode, we learn about cornelius vanderbilt and his efforts to break through steamship monopolies organized by the new york state government.
Great historical book about the cornelius vanderbilt commodore, what happened to the kids and the wealth. String bound in brown cloth lettered and decorated in gilt, 1 12 x 2 12 piece of cloth missing from foot of spine, soiling to edges. Tags cornelius vanderbilt, elevated railroad, high line, hudson river, st. We learn how his entrepreneurial efforts helped improve the lives of the everyday american. Jan 18, 2018 the greatgrandchildren of cornelius vanderbilt will no longer be able to live in the thirdfloor apartment of the newport mansion.
Phebe hand vanderbilt 17671854 find a grave memorial. Best new fiction in the international book awards for 2016, finalist in two categories independent author network book of the year, chantecleer goethe award finalist, shelf unbound notable 100. As a boy he ferried freight and passengers from staten island to manhattan, and he soon gained control of most of the ferry lines and other short lines in the vicinity of new york city. Bartholomews, where the vanderbilt family attended services. The family patriarch, the commodore, built a fortune that made him the worlds richest man by. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. A man of brutal force, cornelius vanderbilt for better and worse helped. The curious wealth of cornelius vanderbilt optimizing. He began a passenger ferry business in new york harbor with one boat, then started.
Perhaps more than anyone else, he ushered in a new era of corporate. You can visit all of these incredible vanderbilt family homes. The golden era, and grand destruction, of cornelius. Cornelius vanderbilt fell in love with tennessee celeste claflin 18451923, the sister of suffragist historical figure victoria woodhull. For fans of downton abbey, a reallife american version of the crawley familyfortunes children is an enthralling true story that recreates the drama, splendor, and wealth of the legendary vanderbilts. The book is drawn from a yearlong email conversation between the cnn anchor60 minutes correspondent and vanderbilt as her 91st birthday neared. Cornelius vanderbilt, also known informally as commodore vanderbilt, was an american business magnate and philanthropist who built his wealth in railroads and shipping. The greatgrandchildren of cornelius vanderbilt will no longer be able to live in the thirdfloor apartment of the newport mansion.
Donate to help vulnerable communities cope with covid19 donate. Cornelius vanderbilt simple english wikipedia, the free. Manley wisely kept their biographies and names out of the book. This interesting and compelling book told not only the story of this powerful man but also the history of america during one of the most sweeping and memorable times in our history. A gripping, groundbreaking biography of the combative man whose genius and force of will created modern capitalism. Stiles tells the dramatic story of cornelius commodore vanderbilt, the combative man and american icon who, through his genius and force of will, did more than perhaps any other individual to create modern capitalism. The vanderbilt family is an american family of dutch origin who gained prominence during the gilded age. And also a great study of how quickly 12 generations can drain a familys wealth dry. By slashing fares and buying out rival firms, vanderbilt achieved a near monopoly on steamship travel between new york and boston. In some ways, cornelius vanderbilt was quite lucky.
Weve got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day. Cornelius vanderbilt was buried in the family vault in the moravian cemetery at new dorp on staten island. Stiless whacking new biography of cornelius vanderbilt moves with force and conviction and imperious wit through the noisy life and times of the man who inspired the term robber baron. Cornelius vanderbilt is deemed one of americas leading businessmen, and is credited for helping to shape the presentday united states. His nickname, commodore, referred sardonically to his. Nicknamed the commodore, he is known for owning the new york central railroad. The books length will intimidate many casual readers, as will the indepth.
By the 1850s he had shifted his focus from steamships to railroads. Cornelius vanderbilt iiis house photo taken for architecture catalogue book 1895 february 2020 the saga of 640 fifth avenue began in 1878, when henry william vanderbilt, son and principal heir of the commodore cornelius vanderbilt, engaged architect john b. Feb 27, 2020 anderson cooper, a prominent journalist, cnn anchor and bestselling author who often reports from around the world, will be at vanderbilt university for a chancellors lecture on sunday, march 29. Cornelius vanderbilt, vignetted standing portrait new york. The latest from renehan, author most recently of a muchpraised biography of another titan of 19thcentury business, jay gould, is a thorough look at cornelius vanderbilt 17941877, who ros. According to stiles, vanderbilt s life serves as a. The vanderbilt heirs are moving out of the breakers in. He provided the initial gift to found vanderbilt university, which is named in his honor. The first tycoon went on to win the 2009 national book award for nonfiction and the 2010 pulitzer prize for biography or autobiography. At the time of his death he owned five percent of americas wealth. This biography offers a sweeping new account of the business career. There will be three family tree branches shown below to indicate the relationship between the eleven vanderbilts whose bio profiles are included in the new netherland institute collection of prominent dutch. Vanderbilt, a tall, gruff, muscular sailor with experience in those waters, filled the bill.
Nicknamed the commodore, he is known for owning the new york. A descendant of dutch settlers who came to america in the mid1600s, cornelius vanderbilt was born into humble circumstances on may 27, 1794, on staten island, new york. Cornelius vanderbilt was born on may 27, 1794, in the port richmond area of staten island, new york. If interested in a complete biography of vanderbilt please consider a copy of t. Cornelius vanderbilt sa nascut pe 27 mai 1794, in staten island, new york. Phebe hand laid the foundation for vanderbilt success this is the 50th article in the genealogy project, 52 ancestors in 52 weeks. Cornelius vanderbilt, vignetted standing portrait the. Cornelius vanderbilts descendants went on to build grand mansions on fifth avenue in new york city. Gilded new york book lifts the lid on vanderbilt mansion.
Aug 09, 2016 cornelius vanderbilt, also known informally as commodore vanderbilt, was an american business magnate and philanthropist who built his wealth in railroads and shipping. National bestseller winner of the national book award in this groundbreaking biography, t. The epic life of cornelius vanderbilt was a meticulously and extensively researched biography of cornelius commodore vanderbilt. Stiless whacking new biography of cornelius vanderbilt moves with force and conviction and imperious wit through the noisy life and. Thomas gibbons needed a captain for his steamboats running between new york and brunswick, n. Gilded new york book lifts the lid on vanderbilt mansion in. Vanderbilt achieved a near monopoly on steamship travel between new york and boston. Cornelius vanderbilt biography childhood, life achievements. Stiles is a perceptive and witty writer with a remarkable. Vanderbilt, cornelius, 17941877, american railroad magnate, b. Cornelius ii was chairman of the new york central railroad and taught sunday school at st. Cornelius vanderbilt may 27, 1794 january 4, 1877 was an american businessman and philanthropist. Need another excuse to treat yourself to new book this week.
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