Anthony Janszoon van Salee was one of Cornelius Vanderbilt's great-great-great-great-grandfathers. This was eventually condensed to Vanderbilt. The Dutch van der ("of the") was eventually added to Aertson's village name to create "van der Bilt" ("of the Bilt"). While Vanderbilt could be a rascal, combative and cunning, he was much more a builder than a wrecker being honorable, shrewd, and hard-working." AncestryĬornelius Vanderbilt's great-great-great-grandfather, Jan Aertson or Aertszoon ("Aert's son"), was a Dutch farmer from the village of De Bilt in Utrecht, Netherlands, who emigrated to New Amsterdam (later New York) as an indentured servant in 1650. Roger Grant: "Contemporaries, too, often hated or feared Vanderbilt or at least considered him an unmannered brute. He provided the initial gift to found Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. After working with his father's business, Vanderbilt worked his way into leadership positions in the inland water trade and invested in the rapidly growing railroad industry, effectively transforming the geography of the United States.Īs one of the richest Americans in history and wealthiest figures overall, Vanderbilt was the patriarch of the wealthy and influential Vanderbilt family. Cornelius Vanderbilt (– January 4, 1877), nicknamed " the Commodore", was an American business magnate who built his wealth in railroads and shipping.
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