What was William K Vanderbilt known for?
William Henry Vanderbilt, (born May 8, 1821, New Brunswick, N.J., U.S.—died Dec. 8, 1885, New York, N.Y.), American railroad magnate and philanthropist who nearly doubled the Vanderbilt family fortune established and in large part bequeathed to him by his father, Cornelius.
How much was William Vanderbilt worth?
He brought this same mind-set into railways. After his death in 1877, Cornelius’ son William took over the portfolio. Rather incredibly, William doubled the value of the Vanderbilt fortune to US$200 million by the time he died in 1885.
How did William Vanderbilt make his money?
Vanderbilt made his millions by controlling two burgeoning industries: the steamboat industry and the railroad industry. When he died, Vanderbilt’s estate was estimated to be worth $100,000,000. That was back in 1877.
Who was Vanderbilt’s wife?
Frank Armstrong Crawford Vanderbiltm. 1869–1877
Sophia Johnsonm. 1813–1868
Cornelius Vanderbilt/Wife
In 1813, Vanderbilt married his cousin Sophia Johnson, and the couple eventually had 13 children. (A year after his first wife died in 1868, Vanderbilt married another female cousin, Frank Armstrong Crawford, who was more than four decades his junior.)
Did Consuelo Vanderbilt go deaf?
Consuelo Vanderbilt | By the early 1900s, the Duchess of Marlborough had begun to face a deafness in her hearing. She tried many remedies including visits to Vienna but in her memoirs explained that nothing seemed to help until she late removed to France where the dryer air seemed to clear up her hearing.
Is William Vanderbilt a robber baron?
Vanderbilt became recognized as a ruthless tycoon, earning the title of robber baron. However, in 1877, he passed away and left his wealth to his eldest son, William Vanderbilt. William was mostly a contradiction of his father. William Vanderbilt was a great railroad tycoon.
Do Vanderbilts still have money?
When Cornelius Vanderbilt (the Commodore) passed away in 1877, he left the majority of his fortune valued at $95,000,000 to his oldest son. In today’s dollars, this fortune would be worth around $2.1 billion. He left smaller amounts to all of his other children.
Are there any Vanderbilts alive today?
Cornelius Vanderbilt was the richest American until his death in 1877. Branches of the family are found on the United States East Coast. Contemporary descendants include journalist Anderson Cooper, actor Timothy Olyphant, musician John P. Hammond and screenwriter James Vanderbilt.
Who was Consuelo Vanderbilt in love with?
Jacques Balsan
Consuelo Vanderbilt was a willowy beauty of 17 when the 26-year-old Frenchman and future aviation pioneer, Jacques Balsan, first saw her and fell in love. It would be nearly another 26 years before the two would finally marry in 1921 and Consuelo would find happiness with Jacques in France, and later in Southampton.
Did Alva and William Vanderbilt divorce?
The couple had three children: Consuelo, William Kissam Jr., and Harold Stirling. In 1895, Alva Vanderbilt divorced her husband on the grounds of adultery. The divorce decree granted her custody of her children, the right to remarry, and a large financial settlement. Soon after her divorce, she married Oliver H. P.