Cornelius Vanderbilt
1794 – 1877

Cornelius Vanderbilt

American businessman and tycoon (1794–1877)

railway executiveentrepreneur
Born
1794-05-27, Staten Island
Died
1877-01-04
Birthplace state
New York

Biography

Cornelius Vanderbilt, nicknamed "the Commodore", was an American business magnate who built his wealth in railroads and shipping. After working with his father's business, he worked his way into leadership positions in inland and coastal shipping, then invested in the rapidly growing railroad industry, which transformed the geography of the United States.

Occupation

Cornelius Vanderbilt is recorded as a railway executive and a entrepreneur, born in New York (1794–1877).

Connections to New York

Cornelius Vanderbilt was born in Staten Island, New York in 1794. Explore other notable figures from New York, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Cornelius Vanderbilt

Who was Cornelius Vanderbilt?
Cornelius Vanderbilt was American businessman and tycoon (1794–1877), born in New York (1794 – 1877).
When and where was Cornelius Vanderbilt born?
Cornelius Vanderbilt was born on 1794-05-27 in Staten Island.
When did Cornelius Vanderbilt die?
Cornelius died on 1877-01-04.
What was Cornelius Vanderbilt known for?
Cornelius Vanderbilt is recorded as a railway executive and a entrepreneur.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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