Cornelius Vanderbilt II: Difference between revisions

| birth_date = {{birth date|1843|11|1127}}

| resting_place = [[Vanderbilt_Family_Cemetery_and_MausoleumVanderbilt Family Cemetery and Mausoleum|Vanderbilt Family Mausoleum]], Staten Island, New York, U.S.

Cornelius Vanderbilt II was born on November 27, 1843, on [[Staten Island, New York]] to [[William Henry Vanderbilt]] (1821–1885) and Maria Louisa Kissam.<ref name=obit/><ref name=WHVobit>{{cite news |title=Wm. H. Vanderbilt Dead. He is Prostrated by Paralysis While Talking to Robert Jarrett, President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and Dies Without Speaking. His Vast Wealth Estimated at Two Hundred Millions. |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost_historical/access/277689512.html?dids=277689512:277689512&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=DEC+09%2C+1885&author=&pub=The+Washington+Post&desc=WM.+H.+VANDERBILT+DEAD&pqatl=google |quote=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. |worknewspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date= December 9, 1885|access-date=1 August 2008 }}</ref>

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.<ref name=fc2>Vanderbilt, 177-9.</ref>

Vanderbilt was active in numerous organizations, including the [[Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York]], [[YMCA]], [[Red Cross]], [[Salvation Army]], [[Trinity Church (Newport)|Trinity Church]], [[St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, New York|St. Bartholomew's Church]], [[Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission|Sunday Breakfast Association]], and the [[Newport Country Club]].<ref name="obit"/>

==Personal life and death==

On February 4, 1867, he married [[Alice Claypoole Gwynne]] (1845–1934), daughter of Abraham Evan Gwynne and Rachel Moore Flagg.<ref name=ACGVobit>{{cite news |title=Mrs. Vanderbilt Sr. Dies in Home at 89. Widow of Financier, Long Ill. Was A Leader in Brilliant Era of New York Society |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1934/04/23/archives/mrs-vanderbilt-sr-dies-in-home-at-89-widow-of-financier-long-iii.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 23, 1934 }}</ref> The two met at [[St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, New York|St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church]] where both taught [[Sunday Schoolschool]].

[[File:Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, II and her daughters, Gladys and Gertrude, having tea in the libtary at the Breakers Newport, Rhode Island.jpg|thumb|Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt, II and her daughters, Gladys and Gertrude, having tea in the library at the Breakers, Newport, Rhode Island,. [[William Bruce Ellis Ranken]], 1932]]

Together, they had seven children:<ref name=fc/>

* Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt (1869–1874), was born in 1869 butwho died of a childhood illness in 1874 at the age of five.

* William Henry Vanderbilt II (1870–1892), who died of [[typhoid fever]] while attending [[Yale University]].

* [[Cornelius Vanderbilt III|Cornelius "Neily" Vanderbilt III]] (1873–1942), whom hehis father disinherited for marrying [[Grace Graham Wilson]] (1870–1953) without his approval.<ref name=CVIIIobit>{{cite news |agency=[[Associated Press]] |title=Gen. C. Vanderbilt Dies on His Yacht. Great-Grandson and Namesake of Commodore Succumbs in Miami to Brain Hemorrhage. Family With Him at End. He Won Distinction as Soldier, Inventor, engineer, Yachtsman. Often Host to Royalty |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1942/03/02/archives/gen-c-vanderbilt-dies-on-his-yacht-greatgrandson-and-namesake-of.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 2, 1942 }}</ref>

A stroke in 1896 compelled him to reduce his active business involvement. He died of a [[cerebral hemorrhage]] shortly after 6 a.m. on September 12, 1899, at his [[Cornelius Vanderbilt II House|home]] on West Fifty-seventh Street in [[Manhattan, New York City]].<ref name="obit">{{cite news|title=MR. CORNELIUS VANDERBILT DEAD; Succumbed Suddenly Yesterday to Cerebral Hemorrhage. DUE TO STROKE OF PARALYSIS Wife and Daughter Gladys Only Members of His Family With Him. He Had Come to This City on Monday from Newport to Attend a Railroad Meeting – Funeral Services to be Held on Friday.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1899/09/13/archives/mr-cornelius-vanderbilt-dead-succumbed-suddenly-yesterday-to.html|access-date=April 15, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=September 13, 1899}}</ref> On his death, 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.<ref name=fc/> His estate at the time of his death was appraised at $72,999,867, $20&nbsp;million of which was real estate.<ref>{{cite news|title=C. Vanderbilt's Personal Estate|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1900/12/12/108283913.pdf|date=December 12, 1900|access-date=August 25, 2017}}</ref> $73&nbsp;million is equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{Inflation|US|73000000|1900|r=-6}}}}{{Inflation-fn|US}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars.{{Inflation-fn|US}}

[[Category:PeopleBusinesspeople from Staten Island]]