Cornelius Vanderbilt II | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Portrait of Vanderbilt byJohn Singer Sargent | |
| Born | (1843-11-27)November 27, 1843 Staten Island, New York, U.S. |
| Died | September 12, 1899(1899-09-12) (aged 55) New York City, U.S. |
| Resting place | Vanderbilt Family Mausoleum, Staten Island, New York, U.S. |
| Employer | New York Central Railroad |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt William Henry Vanderbilt II Cornelius Vanderbilt III Gertrude Vanderbilt Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt Gladys Moore Vanderbilt |
| Parent(s) | William Henry Vanderbilt Maria Louisa Kissam |
| Relatives | SeeVanderbilt family |
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Cornelius "Corneil" Vanderbilt II (November 27, 1843 – September 12, 1899) was an American socialite and a member of the prominent United StatesVanderbilt family.
He was the favorite grandson of CommodoreCornelius Vanderbilt, who bequeathed him $5 million, and the eldest son ofWilliam Henry "Billy" Vanderbilt (who bequeathed him about $70 million) and Maria Louisa Kissam. In his turn, he succeeded them as the chairman and the president of theNew York Central and related railroad lines in 1885.[1]
Cornelius Vanderbilt II was born on November 27, 1843, onStaten Island, New York toWilliam Henry Vanderbilt (1821–1885) and Maria Louisa Kissam.[2][3]
Vanderbilt established a reputation for a strong work ethic while clerking at theShoe and Leather Bank in New York City. This endeared him to his grandfather, the 'Commodore,' who was a strong believer in personal industry.[4]
Vanderbilt was active in numerous organizations, including theSaint Nicholas Society of the City of New York,YMCA,Red Cross,Salvation Army,Trinity Church,St. Bartholomew's Church, Sunday Breakfast Association, and theNewport Country Club.[2]
On February 4, 1867, he marriedAlice Claypoole Gwynne (1845–1934), daughter of Abraham Evan Gwynne and Rachel Moore Flagg.[5] The two met atSt. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church where both taughtSunday school.
Together, they had seven children:[1]
A stroke in 1896 compelled him to reduce his active business involvement. He died of acerebral hemorrhage shortly after 6 a.m. on September 12, 1899, at hishome on West Fifty-seventh Street inManhattan, New York City.[2]
Upon his death, family leadership passed to his first brother,William Kissam Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt's philanthropy had been such that he did not increase the wealth that had been left to him.[1] His estate at the time of his death was appraised at $72,999,867, $20 million of which was real estate.[11] In 2024 dollars,[12] $73 million is equivalent to $2.76 billion.[12]
In the weeks following Cornelius Vanderbilt II's death, the terms of his will sparked a minor controversy within New York society when it was revealed that Vanderbilt's eldest surviving son, Cornelius Vanderbilt III, was to receive a substantially smaller share of his estate compared to his siblings. In his place Vanderbilt’s second surviving son, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, was named as the principal beneficiary, inheriting over half of the fortune as well as the Gold Congressional Medallion awarded to his grandfather, 'Commodore' Cornelius Vanderbilt I, by the United States Congress—an heirloom which had come to symbolise headship of the Vanderbilt family. The final version of the will bore the date 18 June 1896, the same day originally intended for the wedding of Cornelius Vanderbilt III to Grace Wilson despite his parents' disapproval of the union.[13]
Under the terms of the Will, the bulk of Vanderbilt's estate was divided amongst his widow and children:
Vanderbilt's Will also provided for a specific bequest of $100,000 to his younger brother Frederick William Vanderbilt, whilst other relatives, friends, and servants collectively received approximately $565,000. Various churches and charitable organisations collectively received charitable bequests totaling $1,020,000.[14]
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TheFifth Avenue mansions that Cornelius Vanderbilt II, his brothers, and his sons lived in have been demolished, includingCornelius Vanderbilt II House.
His 70-room summer residence,The Breakers inNewport, Rhode Island, still stands as a memory of his lifestyle. It is today operated as ahistoric house museum.[1]
Through his son,Reginald, he was the grandfather ofGloria Laura Vanderbilt, the socialite and fashion designer, and the great-grandfather of news anchorAnderson Hays Cooper.[1]
Through his son,Alfred, he was the grandfather ofWilliam Henry Vanderbilt III,Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr., andGeorge Washington Vanderbilt III.[1]
Through his daughter,Gladys, he was the grandfather of Hungarian-American heiressAlice Széchenyi.[15]
The 1864 Congressional Gold Medal which had been awarded to Cornelius' grandfather, which Cornelius Vanderbilt II in turn bequeathed to his second sonAlfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, later passed to Alfred's oldest sonWilliam Henry Vanderbilt III in 1915, and then to his only son William Henry Vanderbilt IV in 1981.[16] William H. Vanderbilt IV donated the medal and several other family heirlooms toVanderbilt University in 2022.[16]
William H. Vanderbilt died at his residence in this city, of paralysis, at half-past two o'clock this afternoon. He arose this morning at his usual hour, and at breakfast served to the members of the family, most of whom were present, he appeared to be in his usual health and in a more than usually happy frame of mind.
Homans, James E., ed. (1918)."Vanderbilt, Alfred Gwynne" .The Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: The Press Association Compilers, Inc.Cornelius Vanderbilt, 1794–1877, was married to Sophia Johnson from 1813 until her death in 1868. Their eldest son, William Henry Vanderbilt, was born in 1821. His eldest son, Cornelius Vanderbilt II, was born in 1843. Cornelius Vanderbilt II left his estate to his third son, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, 1877–1915. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt's eldest son, William Henry Vanderbilt III, was born in 1901. William Henry Vanderbilt III's only son, William Henry Vanderbilt IV, was born in 1945. The items in this collection were passed from son to son until William Henry Vanderbilt IV donated them to Vanderbilt University in 2022.
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