Cornelius vanderbilt ii biography

Cornelius Vanderbilt May 27, — January 4, , nicknamed " the Commodore ", was an American business magnate who built his wealth in railroads and shipping. 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.

How did cornelius vanderbilt die

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 This was eventually condensed to Vanderbilt. At the age of 16, Vanderbilt decided to start his own ferry service.

He began his business by ferrying freight and passengers on a ferry between Staten Island and Manhattan. Such was his energy and eagerness in his trade that other captains nearby took to calling him "The Commodore" in jest—a nickname that stuck with him all his life. While many Vanderbilt family members had joined the Episcopal Church , [ 10 ] Cornelius Vanderbilt remained a member of the Moravian Church to his death.

On December 19, , at age 19 Vanderbilt married his first cousin, Sophia Johnson. They moved into a boarding house on Broad Street in Manhattan.