William+Vanderbilt

William Vanderbilt was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, on May 8, 1821, and Died in New York City, New York, on December 8, 1885, at age 64. In 1877, His father Cornelius Vanderbilt passed away and left his railroad empire to William Vanderbilt. Once inherited, the profit of the railroad empire had increased by about 94 Million. As a child William Vanderbilt had been criticized by his father who had called him a "Blockhead." When he had gained his empire he wanted to prove that he was not stupid and could not run it into the ground. "The railroads are not run for the benefit of the 'dear public' — that cry is all nonsense — they are built by men who invest their money and expect to get a fair percentage on the same." At age 19, Vanderbilt had started to work as a clerk in a New York banking house. After, he had became the president of the Staten Island Railway in 1862, vice president of the Hudson River Railway and the New York Central Railroad in 1869, and president in 1877, and tookover his father's presidency of the Lakeshore and Michigan Southern Railway, Canada Southern Railway, and the Michigan Central Railroad. In 1841, He had married Maria Louisa Kissam. Together, they had 8 children named Cornelious Vanderbilt II, Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt, William Kissam Vanderbilt, Emily Thorn Vanderbilt, Florence Adele Vanderbilt, Frederick William Vanderbilt, Eliza Osgood Vanderbilt, and George Washington Vanderbilt II. After deceased, he made his sons important chairmen and appointed experienced men as the presidents. He was buried at the Vanderbilt family mausoleum, and his house was divided among his children. He left money to the Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Also, he left a YMCA, a young mens christian association, with rooms with bunk beds for children.

Bibliography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Vanderbilt