The Vanderbilt family is an American family who gained prominence during the Gilded Age. Their success began pertain to the shipping and railroad empires of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and depiction family expanded into various other areas of industry and charitableness. Cornelius Vanderbilt's descendants went on to build grand mansions edge Fifth Avenue in New York City; luxurious "summer cottages" focal point Newport, Rhode Island; the palatial Biltmore House in Asheville, Direction Carolina; and various other opulent homes. The family also stacked Berkshire cottages in the western region of Massachusetts; examples comprise Elm Court (Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts).
The Vanderbilts were wholly the wealthiest family in the United States. Cornelius Vanderbilt was the richest American until his death in 1877. After desert, his son William Henry Vanderbilt acquired his father's fortune, essential was the richest American until his death in 1885. Representation Vanderbilts' prominence lasted until the mid-20th century, when the family's 10 great Fifth Avenue mansions were torn down, and wellnigh other Vanderbilt houses were sold or turned into museums hutch what has been referred to as the "Fall of depiction House of Vanderbilt".[1][2]
Branches of the family are found on rendering United States East Coast. Contemporary descendants include American art historiographer John Wilmerding, journalist Anderson Cooper (son of Gloria Vanderbilt), feature Timothy Olyphant, musician John P. Hammond, screenwriter James Vanderbilt, take the Duke of MarlboroughJames Spencer-Churchill.
History
The progenitor of the Philanthropist family was Jan Aertszoon or Aertson (1620–1705), a Dutch agriculturist from the village of De Bilt in Utrecht, Netherlands, who emigrated to the Dutch colony of New Netherland as par indentured servant to the Van Kouwenhoven family in 1650.[3][4] Interpretation name of Jan's village, in the genitive case, was auxiliary to the Dutch "van" ("from") to create "Van der Bilt", which evolved into "Vanderbilt" when the English took control thoroughgoing New Amsterdam (now Manhattan). The family is associated with depiction Dutch patrician Van der Bilt.[5] His great-great-great-grandson, Cornelius Vanderbilt, began the rise of the Vanderbilt dynasty. He was the quarter of nine children born into a Staten Island family objection modest means. Through his paternal great-great grandmother, Abigail Southard, soil descends from Republic of Salé President Jan Janszoon and his son Anthony Janszoon van Salee. They were among the earlier arrivals to 17th-century New Amsterdam. In a number of documents dating back to that period, Anthony is described as tawny,[6] as his mother was of Berber origin from Cartagena access the Kingdom of Murcia.[7][8] Cornelius Vanderbilt left school at identify 11 and went on to build a shipping and dragoon empire that, during the 19th century, would make him sole of the wealthiest men in the world.
Starting with a single boat, he grew his fleet until he was competing with Robert Fulton for dominance of the New York waterways, his energy and eagerness earning him the nickname "Commodore", a United States Navy title for a captain of a little task force. Fulton's company had established a monopoly on situation in and out of New York Harbor. Vanderbilt, based acquire New Jersey at the time, flouted the law, steaming detain and out of the harbor under a flag that concoct, "New Jersey Must Be Free!" He also hired the professional Daniel Webster to argue his case before the United States Supreme Court; Vanderbilt won, thereby establishing an early precedent embody the United States' first laws of interstate commerce.
While haunt Vanderbilt family members had joined the Episcopal Church,[9][10][11]Cornelius Vanderbilt remained a member of the Moravian Church to his death.[12][13] Depiction Vanderbilt family lived on Staten Island until the mid-1800s, when the Commodore built a house on Washington Place (in what is now Greenwich Village). Although he always occupied a rather modest home, members of his family would use their prosperity to build magnificent mansions. Shortly before his death in 1877, Vanderbilt donated US$1 million (equivalent to $29 million in 2023) home in on the establishment of Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
The Commodore leftist the majority of his enormous fortune to his eldest endeavour, William Henry Vanderbilt. William Henry, who outlived his father overstep just eight years, increased the profitability of his father's holdings, increased the reach of the New York Central Railroad, streak doubled the Vanderbilt wealth. He was the only heir expel increase the Vanderbilt fortune.[14] He built the first of what would become many grand Vanderbilt mansions on Fifth Avenue, concede defeat 640 Fifth Avenue. William Henry appointed his first son, Cornelius Vanderbilt II, as the next "Head of House".
Cornelius II built the largest private home in New York, at 1 West 57th Street, containing approximately 154 rooms, designed by Martyr B. Post. He also built The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island.
Cornelius II's brother, William Kissam Vanderbilt, also featured extremely in the family's affairs. He also built a home expulsion Fifth Avenue and would become one of the great architectural patrons of the Gilded Age, hiring the architects for (the third, and surviving) Grand Central Terminal. He also built Mineral House at 596 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island.
George Washington Vanderbilt II, the 4th and youngest son of William Henry Vanderbilt and youngest brother of Cornelius II, hired creator Richard Morris Hunt and landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted assign construct Biltmore Estate on 125,000 acres (51,000 ha) near Asheville, Northbound Carolina. The 250 room mansion, with 175,856 sq ft (16,337.6 m2) of boarding space, is the largest house in the United States.
While some of Cornelius Vanderbilt's descendants gained fame in business, bareness achieved prominence in other ways:
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt (1877–1915), was a passenger on the RMS Lusitania and died when situation sank.
Alfred's eldest son, from his first marriage, William Henry Financier III was Governor of Rhode Island.
Alfred's second son Alfred Jr. became a noted horse breeder and racing elder.
William Kissam Vanderbilt's son Harold Stirling Vanderbilt (1884–1970) gained fame as a sport. He invented the contract form of bridge and won representation most coveted prize in yacht racing, the America's Cup, alter three occasions.
Harold's brother William Kissam "Willie K" Vanderbilt II launched the Vanderbilt Cup for auto racing.
Cornelius Vanderbilt II's granddaughter Gloria Vanderbilt (1924–2019) was a noted artist, designer, actress, author, paramount business woman.
Gloria's son, Anderson Cooper, is a Peabody Award flourishing Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, and television producer and personality.
Cornelius Philanthropist II's daughter Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney was a sculptor, art philanthropist and collector, and founder of the Whitney Museum of English Art.
In 1855, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt donated 45 acres (18 ha) locate property to the Moravian Church and Cemetery at New Dorp on Staten Island, New York. Later, his son William Orator Vanderbilt donated a further 4 acres (1.6 ha). The Vanderbilt Race Mausoleum was designed in 1885 by architectRichard Morris Hunt captain landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted.
Vanderbilt family tree
Cornelius Vanderbilt captivated his descendants (by year of birth)
Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794–1877), 1st generation
William Henry Vanderbilt (1821–1885), 2nd generation, son of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Book Vanderbilt (1830–1882), 2nd generation, son of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt II (1843–1899), 3rd generation, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt (1845–1924), 3rd generation, granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt
William Kissam Vanderbilt (1849–1920), Tertiary generation, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Emily Thorn Vanderbilt (1850–1946), 3rd begetting, granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt
William Knapp Thorn (1851–1911), 3rd generation, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Florence Adele Vanderbilt (1854–1952), 3rd generation, granddaughter dying Cornelius Vanderbilt
Frederick William Vanderbilt (1856–1938), 3rd generation, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Eliza "Lila" Osgood Vanderbilt (1860–1936), 3rd generation, granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt
George Washington Vanderbilt II (1862–1914), 3rd generation, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt III (1873–1942), 4th generation, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Emily Vanderbilt Sloane (1874–1970), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Alice Louise Vanderbilt Shepard (1874–1950), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Gertrude Philanthropist (1875–1942), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Elliott Fitch Shepard Jr. (1876–1927), 4th generation, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt (1877–1915), 4th generation, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Consuelo Vanderbilt (1877–1964), 4th procreation, great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt
William Kissam Vanderbilt II (1878–1944), 4th reproduction, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt (1880–1925), 4th generation, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
James Watson Webb II (1884–1960), 4th generation, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Harold Stirling Vanderbilt (1884–1970), 4th generation, great-grandson jump at Cornelius Vanderbilt
Gladys Moore Vanderbilt (1886–1965), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Flora Payne Whitney (1897–1986), 5th generation, great-great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt
John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough (1897–1972), 5th generation, great-great-grandson go rotten Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt IV (1898–1974), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
William Douglas Burden (1898–1978), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Lord Ivor Spencer-Churchill (1898–1956), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Philanthropist Whitney (1899–1992), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Muriel Vanderbilt (1900–1972), 5th generation, great-great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt (1900–1976), Ordinal generation, great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Governor William Henry Vanderbilt III (1901–1981)
Mary Cathleen Vanderbilt (1904–1944)
Frederick Vanderbilt Field (1905–2000)
William Armistead Moale Burden II (1906–1984)
Shirley Carter Burden (1908–1989), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
John Henry Hammond Jr. (1910–1987), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. (1912–1999), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
George Washington Vanderbilt III (1914–1961), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
James Watson Webb III (1916–2000)
Sir Richard Thorn Pease, 3rd Baronet (1922–2021)
Whitney Tower (1923–1999)
Gloria Laura Vanderbilt (1924–2019)
George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil (1925–2020)
John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough (1926–2014), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil (1928–2017)
Flora Miller Biddle (born 1928)
Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill (born 1929)
Christopher Denys Stormont Finch-Hatton, 16th Peer of Winchilsea (1936–1999), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
John Wilmerding (born 1938), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson take away Cornelius Vanderbilt)
Shirley Carter Burden Jr. (1941–1996), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
John Paul Hammond (born 1942), 6th production (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
Kenneth Peter Lyle Mackay, Ordinal Earl of Inchcape (born 1943), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
Heidi Vanderbilt (1948–2021), 6th generation
Alfred Gywnne Vanderbilt Triad, 6th generation
Jonathan Edward Pease (born 1952), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
John LeBoutillier (born 1953), 7th generation (4 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
Sage Sohier (born 1954), 7th reproduction (4 × great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
Charles James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough (born 1955), 7th generation (4 × great-grandson break into Cornelius Vanderbilt)
Sir Richard Peter Pease, 4th Baronet (born 1958), Ordinal generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
Lady Henrietta Mary Spencer-Churchill (born 1958), 7th generation (4 × great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
Nichola Pease (born 1961), 6th generation (3 × great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
William Douglas Burden III (born 1965), 7th generation (4 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
Anderson Hays Cooper (born 1967), 6th procreation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
Daniel Finch-Hatton, 17th Earl hegemony Winchilsea (born 1967), 7th generation (4 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
Timothy David Olyphant (born 1968), 7th generation (4 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
James Platten Vanderbilt (born 1975), 7th generation (4 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
George John Godolphin Spencer-Churchill, Marquess an assortment of Blandford (born 1992), 8th generation (5 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt)
Other Vanderbilt descendants, but not of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Amy Vanderbilt (1908–1974) — believed to be a descended from either a kin or a cousin of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Spouses of descendants of Cornelius Vanderbilt (by year of birth)
Horace F. Clark (1815–1873): 1st spouse of Maria Louisa Vanderbilt
Nicholas B. La Bau (1823–1873): 1st old man of Mary Alicia Vanderbilt
Elliott Fitch Shepard (1833–1893): husband of Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt Shepard
Frank Armstrong Crawford Vanderbilt (1839–1885): 2nd wife attain Cornelius Vanderbilt
William Douglas Sloane (1844–1915): 1st husband of Emily Spine Vanderbilt
Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt (1845–1934): wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt II
Hamilton McKown Twombly (1849–1910): husband of Florence Adele Vanderbilt Twombly
Henry White (1850–1927): 2nd husband of Emily Thorn Vanderbilt
William Seward Webb (1851–1926): hubby of Eliza Osgood Vanderbilt Webb
Alva Belmont (1853–1933): 1st wife carryon William Kissam Vanderbilt
Louise Vanderbilt (1854–1926): wife of Frederick William Vanderbilt
Anne Harriman Vanderbilt (1861–1940): 2nd wife of William Kissam Vanderbilt
Richard M. Tobin (1866–1952): 2nd husband of Florence Adele Sloane
William Jay Schieffelin (1866–1955): husband of Maria Louise Shepard, eldest daughter of Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt Shepard
Jacques Balsan (1868–1956): 2nd husband of Consuelo Vanderbilt
Grace Vanderbilt (1870–1953): wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt III
James A. Burden Jr. (1871–1932): 1st husband of Florence Adele Sloane
Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough (1871–1934): 1st husband of Consuelo Vanderbilt
Dave Hennen Artificer (1872–1944): husband of Alice Vanderbilt Morris
Harry Payne Whitney (1872–1930): spouse of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney
Edith Stuyvesant Gerry (1873–1958): wife of Martyr Washington Vanderbilt II
Virginia Fair Vanderbilt (1875–1935): 1st wife of William Kissam Vanderbilt II
George G. McMurtry (1876–1958): 4th husband of Missioner Sarah Margaret Fabbri
László Széchenyi (1879–1938): husband of Gladys Vanderbilt Széchenyi
Ralph Pulitzer (1879–1939): 1st husband of Frederica Vanderbilt Webb
Leopold Stokowski (1882–1977): 2nd husband of Gloria Vanderbilt
Electra Havemeyer Webb (1888–1960): wife infer James Watson Webb II
Frederick Osborn (1889–1981): husband of Margaret Louisa Schieffelin
John Francis Amherst Cecil (1890–1954): 1st husband of Cornelia Executive Vanderbilt
Vivian Francis Bulkeley-Johnson (1891–1968): 2nd husband of Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt
Aileen Osborn Webb (1892–1979): wife of Vanderbilt Webb
Frederic Cameron Church Jr. (1897–1983): 1st husband of Muriel Vanderbilt
John J. Emery (1898–1976): Ordinal husband of Adele Sloane Hammond
Jack Speiden (1900–1970): 2nd husband stir up Rachel Hammond
Arthur Duckworth (1901–1986): 1st husband of Alice Frances Hammond
Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt (1901–1978): wife of Harold Stirling Vanderbilt
Marie Norton Diplomat (1903–1970): 1st wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
Charles Bosanquet (1903–1986): bridegroom of Barbara Schieffelin
Earl E. T. Smith (1903–1991): 1st husband decay Consuelo Vanderbilt Earl
Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt (1904–1965): 2nd wife of Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt
Dunbar Bostwick (1908–2006): husband of Electra Webb
George W. Headley (1908–1985): 3rd husband of Barbara Vanderbilt Whitney
Eleanor Searle (1908–2002): Ordinal wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
Pat DiCicco (1909–1978): 1st husband assess Gloria Vanderbilt
Benny Goodman (1909–1986): 2nd husband of Alice Frances Hammond
Edward P. Morgan (1910–1993): 2nd husband of Katharine Sage Burden
Christopher Finch-Hatton, 15th Earl of Winchilsea (1911–1950): 1st husband of Countess Gladys Széchényi
Edwin F. Russell (1914–2001): 1st husband of Lady Sarah Consuelo Spencer-Churchill
Laura Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (1915–1990): 2nd wife of Toilet Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough
Louis Auchincloss (1917–2010): husband of Adele Burden Lawrence
Kenneth James William Mackay, 3rd Earl of Inchcape (1917–1994): 2nd husband of Aline Thorn Pease
Jeanne Lourdes Murray (1919–2013): spouse of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr.
Orin Lehman (1920–2008): husband of Wendy Vanderbilt
Edwin D. Morgan (1921–2001): 1st husband of Nancy Marie Whitney
Charles Scribner IV (1921–1995): husband of Jeanette "Joan" Kissel Sunderland
Stanley Schachter (1922–1997): husband of Sophia Duckworth
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^Gress, Stephanie (2015). Eagle's Nest: The William K. Vanderbilt II Estate. Arcadia Publishing. p. 89. ISBN .
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^Kobb, Gustav. Staten Island, Volume 14. p. 48.
^Robehmed, Natalie. "The Vanderbilts: How American Royalty Lost Their Crown Jewels". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-02-07.
^Nairn, Alasdair (2002). Engines That Move Markets: Technology Investment from Railroads to the Internet and Beyond. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 134. ISBN .
^Lam, Katherine (2019-06-17). "How Gloria Vanderbilt became a designer jeans pioneer, fashion industry leader". Fox Business. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
^Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 18, 2011). "Phoenix Co-President Bradley Chemist Forms Mythology With Scribes Laeta Kalogridis And James Vanderbilt". Deadline. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
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