Life
Where and when was Cornelius Vanderbilt born?
May 27, 1794 in the Port Richmond - area of Staten Island in NY
what type of businesses did Cornelius Vanderbilt involve himself in?
A passenger ferry business, steamship company, and railroads.
Who was known for constructing railroads?
Cornelius Vanderbilt
How many kids did Vanderbilt have?
9
How old was Vanderbilt when he purchased his first sailboat? How much did it cost? How did he get the money?
Vanderbilt was 16 years old when he purchased his first sailboat. The sailboat costed 100$, he got the money from landscaping with his father.
What was his nickname?
Commodore Vanderbilt
When Vanderbilt was in his mid-30's, what business of his own did he start?
A steamboat ferry
Where was the first places Vanderbilt created a railroad?
New York and Chicago
Who is Vanderbilt's son (and heir to the empire)?
William Henry Vanderbilt
How much money did Vanderbilt make in 5 years being in the Railroad company?
$25 million
When did Vanderbilt die?
1877
Who did Vanderbilt work for after selling his ships in 1817?
Thomas Gibbons
What technological advancements hurt Vanderbilt's success?
Steamships (1817) and Railroads (1860's)
What year did Vanderbilt's wife die? What was her name?
1868, Sophia
What did Vanderbilt purchase in the 1860's? Where did he purchase it?
A railroad in NY
Was Vanderbilt father literate and what was his job?
No he was not literate and he was a seaman.
How did Vanderbilt treat his consumers?
Vanderbilt offered refunds to his costumers and did give service to his competition.
What kind of steamship routes was Vanderbilt overseeing in 1855?
Transatlantic
A year after Vanderbilt's wife died who did Vanderbilt marry?
A distant cousin: Frances Armstrong Crawford
What made Vanderbilt's company decline in business?
Steamboats and low costs (of the steamboat ferry)
How many siblings did Vanderbilt have?
8
What made Vanderbilt's company decline in business?
Steamboats and low costs (of the steamboat ferry)
Which way did Vanderbilt extend his railroad empire? What places?
Westward - the Lake Shore, Michigan Southern Railway, the Canada Southern Railway, and the Michigan Central Railway.
How much younger was his second wife than him?
34 years younger than him
How much money did Vanderbilt give away? Why?
Vanderbilt gave away 1 million dollars to the Vanderbilt university.