Cornelius Vanderbilt II

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Cornelius Vanderbilt II (November 27, 1843 - September 12, 1899) was an American socialite, heir, businessman, and a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family. He was the favorite grandson of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, who left him $5 million, and the eldest son of William Henry "Billy" Vanderbilt (who left him close to $70 million) and Maria Louisa Kissam. In his turn he succeeded them as head of the New York Central and related railroad lines in 1885.

Video Cornelius Vanderbilt II

Early life

Cornelius Vanderbilt II was born on November 27, 1843 on Staten Island, New York to William Henry Vanderbilt (1821-1885) and Maria Louisa Kissam.

His youngest brother, George Washington Vanderbilt II, commissioned Richard Morris Hunt to design and build Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. It was built between 1889 and 1895, and is still owned by Vanderbilt's descendants.

Maps Cornelius Vanderbilt II

Career

Vanderbilt established a reputation for a strong work ethic while clerking at the Shoe and Leather Bank in New York City. This endeared him to his grandfather, the 'Commodore', who was a strong believer in personal industry.

Vanderbilt was active in numerous organizations including the YMCA, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Trinity Church, St. Bartholomew's Church, Sunday Breakfast Association, and the Newport Country Club.

The Gilded Age Era: The Cornelius Vanderbilt II Mansion New York City

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Personal life

On February 4, 1867, he married Alice Claypoole Gwynne (1845-1934), daughter of Abraham Evan Gwynne and Rachel Moore Flagg. The two met at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church where both taught Sunday School.

Together, they had:

Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt (1869-1874), was born in 1869 but died of a childhood illness in 1874 at the age of five.
William Henry Vanderbilt II (1870-1892) died of typhoid fever while attending Yale University.
Cornelius "Neily" Vanderbilt III (1873-1942), whom he disinherited for marrying Grace Graham Wilson (1870-1953) without his approval.
Gertrude Vanderbilt (1875-1942), who married Harry Payne Whitney (1872-1930)
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt (1877-1915), who died aboard the RMS Lusitania, and who married Ellen French, and after their divorce, Margaret Emerson (1884-1960).
Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt (1880-1925), who first married society debutante Cathleen Neilson, and later Gloria Morgan.
Gladys Moore Vanderbilt (1886-1965), who married Count László Széchenyi (1879-1938).

A stroke in 1896 compelled him to reduce his active business involvement. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage on September 12, 1899 a few minutes after 6 o'clock AM, at his home, West Fifty-seventh Street, in Manhattan, New York City. On his death in 1899, family leadership passed to his first brother, William Kissam Vanderbilt. His philanthropy had been such that he did not increase the wealth that had been left to him. His estate at the time of his death was appraised at $72,999,867, $20 million of which was real estate. $73 million is equivalent to $2.15 billion in 2017 dollars.

Descendants

Through his son, Reginald, he was the grandfather of Cathleen Vanderbilt, Gloria Laura Vanderbilt, the socialite and fashion designer, and the great-grandfather of news anchor Anderson Hays Cooper and his late brother, Carter Vanderbilt Cooper.

Through his son, Alfred, he was the grandfather of William Henry Vanderbilt III, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt II, and George Washington Vanderbilt III.

Legacy

The Fifth Avenue mansions he, his brothers, and his sons lived in have been demolished, but the Newport, Rhode Island vacation home he built, The Breakers, still stands as a memory of his lifestyle.