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When Cornelius passed away in 1877, the entire company was turned over to William. Born Dec. 21, 1870 in this city, young Vanderbilt was little over twenty-one years ald at the time of his death. By the time poor health forced him to resign his railroad presidencies in 1883, William Henry had nearly doubled the Vanderbilt family fortune. So in 1840 Cornelius decided to send William to Staten Island to run one of the Vanderbilt family's farms. As a child, he spent time with his father, who worked as a farmer and cargo boat operator in New York. For example, they had to open Biltmore to the public in 1930 to "increase area tourism" and "generate income to preserve the estate" (via Biltmore's Estate History). To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. [6] Gertrude Vanderbilt (1875-1942), who married Harry Payne Whitney (1872-1930) [7] It was in 1889 when construction of the Biltmore began, and it became his family home when he married Edith Stuyvesant Dresser in 1898 (via Biltmore). Add to your scrapbook. History, Archaeology & Art illuminate a Life on the Hudson, Bert's Maps Verify and try again. William H's daughter, Emily Vanderbilt Sloane, sold . Please refer to it for further understanding of the Vanderbilt family tree. Death came very peacefully. Peaking in the 1920s, the transport and freight industry began to slump in the 1930s. Male 21 December 1870-23 May 1892 LC6Y-7X8. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. At the time, that was more than was in the U.S. Treasury. Failed to delete memorial. William Kissam Vanderbilt took over but retired soon after to concentrate on his yachts and thoroughbred horses, while brother George Vanderbilt's 146,000 acre Biltmore estate ate into his. He was noted as an excellent horseman, a first class cross country rider, and an expert polo player. Finally, the youngest, George W. Vanderbilt, who contributed very little to the Vanderbilts' investments and enterprises, would make large donations to Columbia University, the American Fine Arts Society, and the New York Public Library. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. Last edited on 28 November 2022, at 04:11, New York Central and Hudson River Railroad, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, "Wm. William Henry Vanderbilt II (1870-1892) died of typhoid fever while attending Yale University. Year should not be greater than current year. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Incidentally, we may benefit humanity, but the aim is to earn a dividend. After the mansion was completed William put it in the vestibule that connected his home to that of his daughters'. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. The Vanderbilts also spent quite a bit of money on philanthropy and exploring their personal interests, especially the Vanderbilts of later generations. Gen. Cornelius Vanderbilt, III; Gertrude Whitney; Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt (RMS Lusitania victim); Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt and 2 others; Gladys, Countess Szchenyi and George Vanderbilt less, 1892, Bill died of typhoid fever William H. Vanderbilt Dead. The fortune had doubled when he died less than nine years later. Within a few years William was not only able to revamp and reorganize the railroad, but he also was able to make it into a profitable operation with a strong financial footing, again much to the surprise of many including the father, Cornelius. E-BOOKS AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON; GOOGLE: Kindle Store Pegels, PROMINENT DUTCH AMERICANS, CURRENT AND HISTORIC, EIGHT PROMINENT DUTCH AMERICAN FAMILIES: THE ROOSEVELTS, VANDERBILTS AND OTHERS, 2015, FIFTEEN PROMINENT DUTCH AMERICAN FAMILIES: THE VAN BURENS, KOCH BROTHERS, VOORHEES AND OTHERS, 2015, PROMINENT DUTCH AMERICANS IN U.S. GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS, 2015, ALLIED EUROPE CAMPAIGN1944/1945: TACTICAL MISTAKES, 2017, THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN THE NETHERLANDS: MEMOIRS, 2017, FRENCH REVOLUTION, NAPOLEON AND RUSSIAN WAR OF 1812, 2015, Stephen van Rensselaer III: The Last Patroon, Arent van Curler & the Flatts "[4], In 1884 the firm Grant & Ward went bankrupt and ruined the investments of both Ulysses S. Grant and Vanderbilt, whom Grant had convinced to invest $150,000. Jan arrived in New Amsterdam with just the clothes that he wore and with no means to pay for his immigration, so he became indentured for three years before he finally finished his contract at 16 years old. There are several anecdotes that describe his reckless lifestyle. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Cornelius Vanderbilt was born into a humble family in 1794. Daughter of W. H. Vanderbilt Was Last Surviving Grandchild of Commodore Vanderbilt", "H. M'K. Birth. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/91806842/william-henry-vanderbilt. William Vanderbilt was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey [1] in 1821. Permission to reproduce images (if available) must be obtained from the portrait owner. Weve updated the security on the site. cemeteries found in New Dorp, Richmond County (Staten Island), New York, USA will be saved to your photo volunteer list. A hemorrhage of the stomach occurred at 8:30P.M. Once the mansion was finished, she spared no expense throwing an extravagant ball that would successfully land Willie and Alva on the List of 400 in March 1883. The family name had different variations (Van De Bilt, Van der Bilt, Vander Bilt) before settling on "Vanderbilt," per Old Dutch Church NYC. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. We run them because we have to. He left bequests to his still living siblings, to his own children and to others. Resend Activation Email. McLane and Draper were almost beginning to hope, but it was soon evident that it was only a flicker of the candle, and all hope died with the last hemorrhage. Just a few years later, Reginald died from liver cirrhosis at the age of 45 in 1925. He was born on May 8, 1821 and since 1841 he had been happily married to Maria Louisa Kissam [1821-1896], the daughter of a Presbyterian minister. William Henry Vanderbilt III. Widow Of Financier, Long Ill. Was A Leader In Brilliant Era Of New York Society", "MR. CORNELIUS VANDERBILT DEAD; Succumbed Suddenly Yesterday to Cerebral Hemorrhage. 23 May 1892 (aged 21) Manhattan, New York County (Manhattan), New York, USA. Gloria became the subject of headlines in 1934 when she was just 10 years old due to a custody battle between her mother and her aunt, per History. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Brother of Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt; Brig. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Failed to report flower. This account has been disabled. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The family's progenitor was a Dutch farmer named Jan Aertsen Vanderbilt who came to New Amsterdam (now New York) in 1640 when he was 13 years old in order to have a better life. Try again later. This is a carousel with slides. The home has a French Renaissance style and boasts 250 rooms, 65 fireplaces, and 43 bathrooms. Later on, Cornelius also decided to go into the railroad business and acquired stocks for several railways including the Harlem and New York Railroads, as well as the New York Central and Hudson River Railroads. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Death came very peacefully. In 1857 he convinced his father to make him receiver of the bankrupt Staten Island Railroad and a few years later startled his father by putting the line back on a sound financial footing. Vanderbilt later recouped Grant's other mortgaged war memorabilia, including the memorabilia given by Grant, and returned them to Ulysses S. Grant's wife, Julia Grant, after Grant's death in 1885. In 1899, his father died and, out of his more than $70 million estate, left Cornelius only $500,000. But it had no reality in my life." He gave substantial additional gifts to Vanderbilt University and to the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. To use this feature, use a newer browser. When he was 42, he was told by his doctors that he would die soon if he refused to stop his alcoholic ways. VANDERBILT DIES IN FRANCE IN HIS 71ST YEAR; Was Eldest Male Survivor of Family That Built Fortune in New York Central. He roomed in Durfee Hall, Moses Taylor being his roommate. He roomed in Durfee Hall, Moses Taylor being his roommate. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Try again later. Despite this, William K. "Willie" Vanderbilt, the son of Billy Vanderbilt and grandson of the Commodore, was married to Alva Smith, a social-climbing force who was determined to be accepted into New York's high society. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. The Gilded Age was when many of the infamously wealthy families got their start, from the Rockefellers to the Carnegies to the Vanderbilts (via ThoughtCo). This page was last edited on 28 November 2022, at 04:11. Harold's brother William Kissam "Willie K" Vanderbilt II launched the Vanderbilt Cup for auto racing. GREAT NEWS! Add to your scrapbook. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Records from the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Co. A Tour of New Netherland The vase was over 9 feet tall and was mounted in bronze. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. In addition, he established the Vanderbilt family name in philanthropy. Florida, in 1904, breaking the one-mile record previously held by Henry Ford. In the years following, Cornelius worked toward expanding his business and by 1812, he pivoted his focus toward steamboats. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Unfortunately, the Catalog of American Portraits does not always have current ownership information. He fought against railroad regulation and engaged in freight rate wars to expand his business. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Make sure that the file is a photo. The baby girl that Reggie Vanderbilt left behind by his death in 1925 would grow up to be fashion designer, writer, artist, actress, and socialite Gloria Vanderbilt, famous for her jeans in the early 1980s. . Please try again later. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. 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. During the past few months the young man had been elected to membership in the Knickerbocker, New York Yacht, Seawanhaka Corinthian, Racket and Tennis, Country, Westchester Polo, and Riding Clubs. Cornelius II built one of the largest private homes in entire New York. Although Cornelius had never been much of a philanthropist, except for his one million dollar gift to Central University in Nashville, Tennessee, which then became the now prestigious Vanderbilt University, William became quite active as a philanthropist in his later years. "It was really fascinating to start to think of them as human beings and not just historical characters or people I'd read about," he said (via Town & Country Magazine). Less than a century later, in 1973, when 120 Vanderbilts came together for a family reunion at Vanderbilt University, there wasn't a single millionaire in attendance. railroad developer, financier Born: 5/8/1821 Birthplace: New Brunswick, N.J. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. The cost of the ball was estimated to be over $250,000 (more than $6 million today, per theOfficial Data Foundation). Billy was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on May 8, 1821, to Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt and Sophia Johnson. The two split on Williams decision to marry at age 19, and Cornelius sent his son off to farm on Staten Island. William Henry Vanderbilt's final ledger entry at Henry Poole & Co is dated 1925 and is ordered from the Paris branch on the Rue Tronchet with a delivery address Harbor . He had also a large allowance from his father, so large, in fact, that in his sophomore year he gave $5,000 for the new gymnasium at Yale.New York Times May 24, 1892, Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. While Billy wasn't as ambitious as his father, he was obsessed with preserving his wealth and would nitpick over expenses. He was brought to his father's house May 6, as his sickness was recognized as serious from the beginning. By the late 20th century, barely 100 years after the Commodore had become the richest man in America and his son the richest man in the world, the Vanderbilt family fortune had dwindled into insignificance. "The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Papers of Hans Bontemantel ; House to Grandson, Marquis of Blandford", "W.K. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. The Commodore was known to have made one big donation in 1873: a $1 million gift to Nashville, Tennessee's, Central University, which would then be founded as Vanderbilt University, as explained byBritannica. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? After joining as an executive of the Staten Island Railway, he was made its president in 1862 and three years later was appointed vice-president of the Hudson River railway. He roomed in Durfee Hall, Moses Taylor being his roommate. Constructed by Stanford White, the chateau had been built to help safeguard the area from commercial invasion. Even Billy, who ended up being the primary inheritor of the Vanderbilt fortune, wasn't allowed to get experience within the railroad empire until he was in his forties. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Cornelius Vanderbilt II was an American socialite, businessman, and a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Failed to delete memorial. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. [1] He was the eldest son of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, an heir to his fortune and a prominent member of the Vanderbilt family. How The Vanderbilt Family Lost Their Entire Fortune, Fortune's Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt. Oops, something didn't work. When Gloria died in 2019, Cooper inherited most of her estate, which, despite being publicly estimated to be worth $200 million, only had a value of about $1.5 million. He also built a mansion on Fifth Avenue to display the art he had donated to it. Failed to remove flower. He lived in 1930, at address, Rhode Island. William Henry Vanderbilt III (November 24, 1901 April 14, 1981) was Governor of Rhode Island and a member of the wealthy and socially prominent Vanderbilt family. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. William Henry Vanderbilt, ( ) . ( ) Born Dec. 21, 1870 in this city, young Vanderbilt was little over twenty-one years ald at the time of his death. I thought you might like to see a memorial for William Henry Vanderbilt II I found on Findagrave.com. [citation needed], Vanderbilt was an avid art enthusiast; his collection included some of the most valuable works of the Old Masters, and over his lifetime Vanderbilt acquired more than 200 paintings, which he housed in his lavish and palatial Fifth Avenue mansion. [1] When he was called into service for World War II, he captained a PT Boat in the South Pacific, earning the Silver Star for bravery. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. NNIis registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. His father and mother their five other children, and Dr. J. W. McLane were at the bedside when the young man breathed his last. Stiles, T.J. (2010). During the past few months the young man had been elected to membership in the Knickerbocker, New York Yacht, Seawanhaka Corinthian, Racket and Tennis, Country, Westchester Polo, and Riding Clubs. Biography. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Gilded Age New York, the period where the Vanderbilts were most prominent, was dominated by strict social hierarchy. She died of cancer in 2019 at the age of 95. While Cornelius was still concentrating on steamship lines, William became interested in railroads. 0 cemeteries found in New Dorp, Richmond County (Staten Island), New York, USA. Oops, we were unable to send the email. : Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt (1877-1915), was a passenger on the RMS Lusitania and died when it sank. Sorry! He acquired the Chicago and Northwestern, the Nickel Plate, serving Chicago and Saint Louis, the Cleveland Railroad, the Columbus Railroad, the Cincinnati Railroad, the Indianapolis Railroad and many other smaller lines. At one time during the afternoon he rallied, and his temperature went down to 100 1/2. He inherited $100 million from his father and continued to grow the family railroad empire. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. William Henry Vanderbilt (May 8, 1821 - December 8, 1885) was an American businessman and philanthropist. Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt-Shepherd [1845-1924], Florence Adele Vanderbilt-Twombley [1854-1952]. Try again later. He is Prostrated by Paralysis While Talking to Robert Jarrett, President of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and Dies Without Speaking. Here's how the Vanderbilt family lost their entire fortune. He was born in 1821 and as a young man, his father didn't believe that he was ambitious. Cornelius apparently felt that William could do little damage on the farm but hopefully the experience would turn him into a man, as envisioned by his father. [1] He was the eldest son of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, an heir to his fortune and a prominent member of the Vanderbilt family. ONCE A RAILROAD BUILDER Husband of Former Eliza Osgood Vanderbilt Early Forsook Medicine for Finance", "G. W. Vanderbilt Dies Suddenly. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. William H. Vanderbilt, eldest son of Cornelius Vanderbilt, died at 10:15 o'clock last night at the home of his father, Fifty seventh Street and Fifth Avenue. Well, this house contains 154 airy and magnificent rooms. William was rewarded for his accomplishments in rebuilding the Long Island Railroad, and became essentially the driving force behind the railroad business of the Vanderbilts. His younger son, Cornelius Jeremiah Vanderbilt, lacked his father's business skills and squandered money on lavish spending and gambling. Finished in 1895, the 30,000-acre estate with a 250-room French Renaissance castle took six years and cost nearly $6 million to build, which would be approximately $1.6 billion by today's standards, according to PocketSense. He is an internationally recognized authority on human spiritual potential, transformation and ascension. Rather than teaching his children his business skills, the Commodore often left them on their own until they could prove themselves to him. [2] ng l con trai c ca Cornelius Vanderbilt, ng cng l ngi tha k ti sn v l mt nhn vt li lc trong i gia nh Vanderbilt. https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Henry-Vanderbilt, American Heritage - The Public Be Damned, William Henry Vanderbilt - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Born in 1878, William Kissam Vanderbilt II was the great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the fabled Commodore, who had first built the family's staggering fortune through steamship and railroad lines. His surviving brothers and sisters are Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr., Gertrude, Alfred, Reginald, and Gladys. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. By supporting NNI you help increase awareness of the 17th century Dutch colony of New Netherland and its legacy in America. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. According to Britannica, Cornelius Vanderbilt II (not to be confused with the Commodore's second son), who was most prominently in charge of the family investments and businesses, donated huge amounts to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Yale University, Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons. William lived on month day 1922, at address, Rhode Island. With the $35 million he made from the sale, he invested in government bonds, a comparatively safe move uncharacteristic of a tycoon. Thanks for your help! Two years later, William Henry Vanderbilt died and left the business to his sons William Kissam Vanderbilt (pictured) and Cornelius Vanderbilt II. Broadcast journalist Anderson Cooper is the child of Gloria Laura Vanderbilt with her fourth husband, Wyatt Emory Cooper. The son of Cornelius Vanderbilt succumbs to typhoid fever. Try again later. When his father, William Henry Vanderbilt died in 1892, Cornelius Vanderbilt II received nearly another $70 million, and the responsibility to manage the New York Central Railroad system. It was an era where flaunting your wealth publicly was all the rage, even in the face of income inequality as millions of other Americans struggled day to day. McLane and Draper were almost beginning to hope, but it was soon evident that it was only a flicker of the candle, and all hope died with the last hemorrhage. Young Vanderbilt was stricken with typhoid fever, which it is thought he contracted while on a Easter tour through the Western States. Dutch people, places, miscellany, For over three decades, NNI has helped cast light on America's Dutch roots. New York Times May 24, 1892* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jun 21 2020, 1:25:50 UTC. Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) . He was interred in the Vanderbilt family mausoleum at the Moravian Cemetery in New Dorp on Staten Island, New York. Cornelius managed the railroad side of the . William Henry "Billy" Vanderbilt (May 8, 1821 - December 8, 1885) was an American businessman and philanthropist. William received bad publicity and clarified his response with a subsequent interview by the Chicago Times. William Henry Vanderbilt (1821-1885) "Billy" Vanderbilt, President of the New York Central Railroad etc. At the time of his death in 1877, his fortune was valued at $100 million (equal to nearly $2.5 billion today, via the Official Data Foundation), which was more money than was held in the U.S. Treasury at the time, according to Forbes. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. There is a problem with your email/password. This record is part of the Catalog of American Portraits, a research archive of the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. The William Henry Vanderbilt estate was valued at about $200 million at the time of his death. His oldest brother had died young, and his second eldest, CorneliusVanderbilt III, had been disinherited after getting married without his parents' approval. It would become an important part of his life. Most of the steam shipping operations were sold off. He dropped out of school at 11 years old to aid his father at work, and five years later, he decided to establish his own shipping business that provided transport services to and from Staten Island and Manhattan, as reported by the National Railroad Hall of Fame. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. In 1896, however, at the age of 23, he decided to marry his lover Grace Wilson, a decision that his parents entirely disapproved of, according to the New Netherland Institute. [citation needed], In 1883, reporter John Dickinson Sherman questioned him about why he ran the limited express train: "Do your limited express trains pay or do you run them for the accommodation of the public?" William Henry Vanderbilt II. The interview was then published in the Chicago Daily News, but Vanderbilt's words were modified. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. ( See also Vanderbilt family .) At one time during the afternoon he rallied, and his temperature went down to 100 1/2. He married Maria Louisa Kissam on 28 September 1841, in Maryland, United States. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. To the surprise of many, including the father, William not only improved the farming operation but was able to make it profitable, and in profits Cornelius believed. It had been a gift to Willie, given by his wealthy father, William K. Vanderbilt, grandson of the famous Commodore Vanderbilt. Learn more about managing a memorial . George Washington Vanderbilt II (November 14, 1862 - March 6, 1914) was an art collector and member of the prominent Vanderbilt family, which had amassed a huge fortune through steamboats, railroads, and various business enterprises. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Although this did not fully cover the $150,000 debt, Vanderbilt accepted the memorabilia as payment and wiped out the $150,000 debt owed by Grant. How many rooms do you expect to be in this house? Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. William Henry Vanderbilt was the eldest son of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt and the wealthiest American after taking over his father's fortune in 1877, inheriting over $100 million. However, various owners and mergers couldn't save it. At the end of the bio profile of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt is an extensive description how the Vanderbilt in this bio profile fits in with the other prominent Vanderbilts who preceded or followed him. Aside from focusing on the business, he was also a philanthropist who donated substantial resources to various organizations. William Henry "Billy" Vanderbilt (Mey 8, 1821 - December 8, 1885) wis an American businessman an philanthropist. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. On his 21st birthday, the night he came into his $15.5 million inheritance, he lost $70,000 gambling. Being the son of Cornelius Vanderbelt did little to secure William a job in the family empire. About William Henry. Cornelius Vanderbilt, byname Commodore Vanderbilt, (born May 27, 1794, Port Richmond, Staten Island, New York, U.S.died January 4, 1877, New York, New York), American shipping and railroad magnate who acquired a personal fortune of more than $100 million. ). Despite being the third-eldest son, Alfred was thought to be the one who would best handle the family fortune. William H. Vanderbilt DeadThe son of Cornelius Vanderbilt succumbs to typhoid fever. 2nd Generation to increase the Vanderbilt fortune: When he died in 1877, he left the family fortune, which was estimated at $100 million, to his son, William Henry Vanderbilt. While Billy was able to prove his business sense to his father, it would be a mistake to assume that the two men had similar characters. Try again later. On his discharge, he returned to racing in a major way. He was brought to his father's house May 6, as his sickness was recognized as serious from the beginning. Three years later, William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil was born in Biltmore House. They also were prone to bouts of family competition, building huge mansions to rival each other. Biografie. According to NYC experts at 6sqft, the Vanderbilt family owned multiple GildedAgemansions on Fifth Avenue's millionaire row, including the massive three townhouses called the "Triple Palaces." William passed away on December 8, 1885, two years after his retirement. Instead, he continued and even married a 17-year-old socialite named Gloria Morgan. after which the sufferer passed into a deep sleep, from which he never awoke. [1], His father Cornelius frequently berated and criticized him, calling his eldest son a "blockhead" and a "blatherskite".