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Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt | |
|---|---|
 Vanderbilt c. 1844–1860 | |
| Born | May 27, 1794 Staten Island, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 4, 1877 (aged 82) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Burial place | Vanderbilt Family Cemetery and Mausoleum, Staten Island, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 13 |
| Relatives | Vanderbilt family |
| Signature | |
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Cornelius Vanderbilt (May 27, 1794 – January 4, 1877), nicknamed "the Commodore", was an American business magnate who built his wealth in railroads and shipping.[1][2] After working with his father's business, Vanderbilt worked his way into leadership positions in the inland water trade and invested in the rapidly growing railroad industry, effectively transforming the geography of the United States.
As one of the richest Americans in history and wealthiest figures overall, Vanderbilt was the patriarch of the wealthy and influential Vanderbilt family. He provided the initial gift to found Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. For his monopoly on shipping and the railroads, facilitated by political manipulation, Vanderbilt is often described as a "robber baron",[3] including in what may be one of first uses of the term, in The New York Times in 1859.[4]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
obitwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Commodore Vanderbilt's Life" (PDF). The New York Times. January 5, 1877. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
- ^ Josephson, Matthew (1962). The Robber Barons. San Diego: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 13. ISBN 978-0-15-676790-3.
- ^ Buder, Stanley (2009). Capitalizing on Change: A Social History of American Business. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press. p. 105. ISBN 978-0-8078-3231-8.
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