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 …

T.J. Stiles, The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt (2009), winner of a Pulitzer Prize, provides a comprehensive account of Vanderbilt’s personal and professional life.

Cornelius Vanderbilt (May 27, 1794 - January 4, 1877) was an American industrialist, born on Staten Island, New York. He entered the transportation business at the age of 16 when he established a …

Apr 16, 2010 · Shipping and railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) was a self-made multi-millionaire who became one of the wealthiest Americans of the 19th century. As a boy, he worked …

May 15, 2025 · Cornelius Vanderbilt became the wealthiest man in America in the mid-19th century by dominating the growing country's transportation business. Starting out with one small boat plying the …

Feb 24, 2025 · Even today, more than 140 years since his passing, Cornelius Vanderbilt's name continues to evoke power, prestige, and fame. He remains the most revered railroad executive of all …

Apr 2, 2014 · Cornelius Vanderbilt was a famous industrialist who worked in railroads and shipping. He had accumulated the largest fortune in the U.S. at the time of his death, in 1877.