Cornelius Vanderbilt

Cornelius Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt c. 1844–1860
Born	May 27, 1794 Staten Island, New York, U.S.
Died	January 4, 1877(1877-01-04) (aged 82) Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Burial place	Vanderbilt Family Cemetery and Mausoleum, Staten Island, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Businessman
Spouses	Sophia Johnson ​ ​ (m. 1813; died 1868)​ Frank Armstrong Crawford ​ ​ (m. 1869)​
Children	13
Relatives	Vanderbilt family
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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. According to historian H. Roger Grant: "Contemporaries, too, often hated or feared Vanderbilt or at least considered him an unmannered brute. While Vanderbilt could be a rascal, combative and cunning, he was much more a builder than a wrecker [...] being honorable, shrewd, and hard-working."^[3]