The Vanderbilt family is an American family who gained prominence during the

Gilded Age In United States history, the Gilded Age was an era extending roughly from 1877 to 1900, which was sandwiched between the Reconstruction era and the Progressive Era. It was a time of rapid economic growth, especially in the Northern and West ...

. Their success began with the shipping and railroad empires of

Cornelius Vanderbilt Cornelius Vanderbilt (May 27, 1794 – January 4, 1877), nicknamed "the Commodore", was an American business magnate who built his wealth in railroads and shipping. After working with his father's business, Vanderbilt worked his way into lead ...

, and the family expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthropy. Cornelius Vanderbilt's descendants went on to build grand mansions on

Fifth Avenue Fifth Avenue is a major and prominent thoroughfare in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It stretches north from Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village to West 143rd Street in Harlem. It is one of the most expensive shopping stre ...

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

; luxurious "summer cottages" in Newport, Rhode Island; the palatial

Biltmore House Biltmore Estate is a historic house museum and tourist attraction in Asheville, North Carolina. Biltmore House (or Biltmore Mansion), the main residence, is a Châteauesque-style mansion built for George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 a ...

Asheville Asheville ( ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Buncombe County, North Carolina. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the state's 11th-most populous cit ...

, North Carolina; and various other opulent homes. The Vanderbilts were once the wealthiest family in the United States. Cornelius Vanderbilt was the richest American until his death in 1877. After that, his son William Henry Vanderbilt acquired his father's fortune, and was the richest American until his death in 1885. The Vanderbilts' prominence lasted until the mid-20th century, when the family's 10 great

mansions were torn down, and most other

Vanderbilt houses From the late 1870s to the 1920s, the Vanderbilt family employed some of the United States's best Beaux-Arts architects and decorators to build an unequalled string of townhouses in New York City and East Coast palaces in the United States. Many ...

were sold or turned into museums in what has been referred to as the "Fall of the House of Vanderbilt". Branches of the family are found on the

United States East Coast The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, the Atlantic Coast, and the Atlantic Seaboard, is the coastline along which the Eastern United States meets the North Atlantic Ocean. The eastern seaboard contains the coa ...

. Contemporary descendants include American Art Historian

John Wilmerding John Currie Wilmerding Jr. (born April 28, 1938), is an American professor of art, collector, and curator, and is best known as a prolific author of books on American art. Early life Wilmerding was born in Boston, Massachusetts on April 28, 19 ...

, journalist

Anderson Cooper Anderson Hays Cooper (born June 3, 1967) is an American broadcast journalist and political commentator from the Vanderbilt family. He is the primary anchor of the CNN news broadcast show ''Anderson Cooper 360°''. In addition to his duties at C ...

, actor

Timothy Olyphant Timothy David Olyphant ( ; born May 20, 1968) is an American actor. He made his acting debut in an off-Broadway theater in 1995, in ''The Monogamist'', and won the Theatre World Award for his performance, and then originated David Sedaris' '' ...

, musician

John P. Hammond John Paul Hammond (born November 13, 1942 in New York City) is an American singer and musician. The son of record producer John H. Hammond, he is sometimes referred to as John Hammond Jr. Background Hammond is a son of record producer and ta ...

, screenwriter

James Vanderbilt James Platten Vanderbilt (born November 17, 1975) is an American filmmaker best known for the films '' Zodiac'' (2007), '' White House Down'' (2013), '' The Amazing Spider-Man'' (2012), '' The Amazing Spider-Man 2'' (2014), '' Independence Day: R ...

, and the

Duke of Marlborough General John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, 1st Prince of Mindelheim, 1st Count of Nellenburg, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, (26 May 1650 – 16 June 1722 O.S.) was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reig ...

History

The progenitor of the Vanderbilt family was Jan Aertszoon or Aertson (1620–1705), a Dutch farmer from the village of

De Bilt De Bilt () is a municipality and town in the province of Utrecht, Netherlands. It had a population of in . De Bilt houses the headquarters of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI). It is the ancestral home and namesake for the p ...

Utrecht Utrecht ( , , ) is the fourth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, in the very centre of mainland Nethe ...

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Neth ...

, who emigrated to the Dutch colony of

New Netherland New Netherland ( nl, Nieuw Nederland; la, Novum Belgium or ) was a 17th-century colonial province of the Dutch Republic that was located on the east coast of what is now the United States. The claimed territories extended from the Delmarva P ...

as an

indentured servant Indentured servitude is a form of labor in which a person is contracted to work without salary for a specific number of years. The contract, called an "indenture", may be entered "voluntarily" for purported eventual compensation or debt repayment, ...

to the Van Kouwenhoven family in 1650. The name of Jan's village, in the

genitive case In grammar, the genitive case ( abbreviated ) is the grammatical case that marks a word, usually a noun, as modifying another word, also usually a noun—thus indicating an attributive relationship of one noun to the other noun. A genitive can a ...

, was added to the Dutch "van" ("from") to create "Van der Bilt", which evolved into "Vanderbilt" when the English took control of

New Amsterdam New Amsterdam ( nl, Nieuw Amsterdam, or ) was a 17th-century Dutch settlement established at the southern tip of Manhattan Island that served as the seat of the colonial government in New Netherland. The initial trading ''factory'' gave rise ...

(now

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the List of counties in New York, origin ...

). The family is associated with the Dutch patrician Van der Bilt. His great-great-great-grandson,

, began the rise of the Vanderbilt dynasty. He was the fourth of nine children born into a

Staten Island Staten Island ( ) is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull a ...

family of modest means. Through his paternal great-great grandmother, Abigail Southard, he descends from

Republic of Salé The Republic of Salé was a city state at Salé (modern Morocco), during the 17th century. Located at the mouth of the Bou Regreg river, it was founded by Moriscos from the town of Hornachos, in Western Spain. Moriscos were the descendants of ...

President

Jan Janszoon Jan Janszoon van Haarlem, commonly known as Reis Mourad the Younger (c. 1570 – c. 1641), was an Ottoman Empire, Ottoman and Salé Rovers Dutch pirate in Algeria and Morocco who Converted to Islam, converted to Islam after being captured by a ...

and his son Anthony Janszoon van Salee. They were among the earliest arrivals to 17th-century

. In a number of documents dating back to that period, Anthony is described as tawny or

mulatto (, ) is a racial classification to refer to people of mixed African and European ancestry. Its use is considered outdated and offensive in several languages, including English and Dutch, whereas in languages such as Spanish and Portuguese is ...

, as his mother was of Berber origin from Cartagena in the

Kingdom of Murcia After roughly two decades as a protectorate of the Crown of Castile, the territory of the Taifa of Murcia became the Kingdom of Murcia ( es, Reino de Murcia, links=no, a territorial jurisdiction of the Crown of Castile) in the wake of its conq ...

. Cornelius Vanderbilt left school at age 11 and went on to build a

shipping Freight transport, also referred as ''Freight Forwarding'', is the physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo. The term shipping originally referred to transport by sea but in American English, it has been ex ...

and

railroad Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a prep ...

empire that, during the 19th century, would make him one of the wealthiest men in the world. Starting with a single boat, he grew his fleet until he was competing with

Robert Fulton Robert Fulton (November 14, 1765 – February 24, 1815) was an American engineer and inventor who is widely credited with developing the world's first commercially successful steamboat, the (also known as ''Clermont''). In 1807, that steamboat ...

for dominance of the New York waterways, his energy and eagerness earning him the nickname "Commodore", a United States Navy title for a captain of a small task force. Fulton's company had established a monopoly on trade in and out of

New York Harbor New York Harbor is at the mouth of the Hudson River where it empties into New York Bay near the East River tidal estuary, and then into the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of the United States. It is one of the largest natural harbors in t ...

. Vanderbilt, based in New Jersey at the time, flouted the law, steaming in and out of the harbor under a flag that read, "New Jersey Must Be Free!" He also hired the attorney

Daniel Webster Daniel Webster (January 18, 1782 – October 24, 1852) was an American lawyer and statesman who represented New Hampshire and Massachusetts in the U.S. Congress and served as the U.S. Secretary of State under Presidents William Henry Harrison, ...

to argue his case before the

United States Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point o ...

; Vanderbilt won, thereby establishing an early precedent for the United States' first laws of

interstate commerce The Commerce Clause describes an enumerated power listed in the United States Constitution ( Article I, Section 8, Clause 3). The clause states that the United States Congress shall have power "to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among ...

. While many Vanderbilt family members had joined the Episcopal Church,

remained a member of the

Moravian Church , image = AgnusDeiWindow.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , caption = Church emblem featuring the Agnus Dei.Stained glass at the Rights Chapel of Trinity Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States , main_classification = Proto-Pro ...

to his death. The Vanderbilt family lived on Staten Island until the mid-1800s, when the Commodore built a house on Washington Place (in what is now

Greenwich Village Greenwich Village ( , , ) is a neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City, bounded by 14th Street to the north, Broadway to the east, Houston Street to the south, and the Hudson River to the west. Greenwich Village ...

). Although he always occupied a relatively modest home, members of his family would use their wealth to build magnificent

mansions A mansion is a large dwelling house. The word itself derives through Old French from the Latin word ''mansio'' "dwelling", an abstract noun derived from the verb ''manere'' "to dwell". The English word ''manse'' originally defined a property la ...

. Shortly before his death in 1877, Vanderbilt donated

US$ The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...

1 million (equivalent to $ million in ) for the establishment of

Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and rail magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school its initial $1-million ...

Nashville Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and th ...

. The Commodore left the majority of his enormous fortune to his eldest son,

William Henry Vanderbilt William Henry Vanderbilt (May 8, 1821 – December 8, 1885) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was the eldest son of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, an heir to his fortune and a prominent member of the Vanderbilt family. Vanderbi ...

. William Henry, who outlived his father by just eight years, increased the profitability of his father's holdings, increased the reach of the

New York Central Railroad The New York Central Railroad was a railroad primarily operating in the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The railroad primarily connected greater New York and Boston in the east with Chicago and St. Louis in the Midw ...

, and doubled the Vanderbilt wealth. He built the first of what would become many grand Vanderbilt mansions on

, at 640 Fifth Avenue. William Henry appointed his first son,

Cornelius Vanderbilt II Cornelius "Corneil" Vanderbilt II (November 27, 1843 – September 12, 1899) was an American socialite and a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family. Noted forebears He was the favorite grandson of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbil ...

, as the next "Head of House". Cornelius II built the largest private home in New York, at 1 West 58th Street, containing approximately 154 rooms, designed by

George B. Post George Browne Post (December 15, 1837 – November 28, 1913) was an American architect trained in the Beaux-Arts tradition. He was recognized as a master of modern American architecture as well as being instrumental in the birth of the skyscrap ...

. He also built

The Breakers The Breakers is a Gilded Age mansion located at 44 Ochre Point Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island, US. It was built between 1893 and 1895 as a summer residence for Cornelius Vanderbilt II, a member of the wealthy Vanderbilt family. The 70-room mans ...

in Newport, Rhode Island. Cornelius II's brother,

William Kissam Vanderbilt William Kissam "Willie" Vanderbilt I (December 12, 1849 – July 22, 1920) was an American heir, businessman, philanthropist and horsebreeder. Born into the Vanderbilt family, he managed his family's railroad investments. Early life William Kiss ...

, also featured prominently in the family's affairs. He also built a home on Fifth Avenue and would become one of the great architectural patrons of the

, hiring the architects for (the third, and surviving)

Grand Central Terminal Grand Central Terminal (GCT; also referred to as Grand Central Station or simply as Grand Central) is a commuter rail terminal located at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Grand Central is the southern terminu ...

. He also built

Marble House Marble House, a Gilded Age mansion located at 596 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island, was built from 1888 to 1892 as a summer cottage for Alva and William Kissam Vanderbilt and was designed by Richard Morris Hunt in the Beaux Arts styl ...

at 596 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island.

George Washington Vanderbilt II George Washington Vanderbilt II (November 14, 1862 – March 6, 1914) was an art collector and member of the prominent Vanderbilt family, which amassed a huge fortune through steamboats, railroads, and various business enterprises. He commission ...

, the 3rd and youngest son of

and youngest brother of Cornelius II, hired architect

Richard Morris Hunt Richard Morris Hunt (October 31, 1827 – July 31, 1895) was an American architect of the nineteenth century and an eminent figure in the history of American architecture. He helped shape New York City with his designs for the 1902 entrance fa� ...

and landscape architect

Frederick Law Olmsted Frederick Law Olmsted (April 26, 1822August 28, 1903) was an American landscape architect, journalist, social critic, and public administrator. He is considered to be the father of landscape architecture in the USA. Olmsted was famous for co-d ...

to construct Biltmore Estate on near

, North Carolina. The 250 room mansion and of floor space remains on top of the list of largest houses in the United States to date. While some of Cornelius Vanderbilt's descendants gained fame in business, others achieved prominence in other ways, e.g.: *

Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Sr. (October 20, 1877 – May 7, 1915) was a wealthy American businessman, and a member of the Vanderbilt family. A sportsman, he participated in and pioneered a number of related endeavors. He died in the sinking of ...

(1877–1915), was a passenger on the RMS ''Lusitania'' and died when it sank. *Alfred's eldest son, from his first marriage, William Henry Vanderbilt III was Governor of Rhode Island. *Alfred's second son Alfred Jr. became a noted horse breeder and racing elder. *

Harold Stirling Vanderbilt Harold Stirling Vanderbilt CBE (July 6, 1884 – July 4, 1970) was an American railroad executive, a champion yachtsman, an innovator and champion player of contract bridge, and a member of the Vanderbilt family. Early life He was born in Oakda ...

(1884–1970) gained fame as a sportsman. He invented the contract form of bridge and won the most coveted prize in yacht racing, the

America's Cup The America's Cup, informally known as the Auld Mug, is a trophy awarded in the sport of sailing. It is the oldest international competition still operating in any sport. America's Cup match races are held between two sailing yachts: one fr ...

, on three occasions. *Harold's brother William Kissam "Willie K" Vanderbilt II launched the

Vanderbilt Cup The Vanderbilt Cup was the first major trophy in American auto racing. History An international event, it was founded by William Kissam Vanderbilt II in 1904 and first held on October 8 on a course set out in Nassau County on Long Island, ...

for

auto racing Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition. Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various sorts were organis ...

. *

Gloria Vanderbilt Gloria Laura Vanderbilt (February 20, 1924 – June 17, 2019) was an American artist, author, actress, fashion designer, heiress, and socialite. During the 1930s, she was the subject of a high-profile child custody trial in which her mother ...

(1924–2019) was a noted artist, designer, actress and author. *Gloria's son,

, is a Peabody Award and Emmy Award-winning journalist, author, and television producer and personality. *

Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (January 9, 1875 – April 18, 1942) was an American sculptor, art patron and collector, and founder in 1931 of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. She was a prominent social figure and hostess, ...

was a sculptor, art patron and collector, and founder of the

Whitney Museum of American Art The Whitney Museum of American Art, known informally as "The Whitney", is an art museum in the Meatpacking District and West Village neighborhoods of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1930 by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (1875–194 ...

In 1855, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt donated of property to the Moravian Church and Cemetery at

New Dorp New Dorp is a neighborhood on the East Shore of Staten Island, New York City, United States. New Dorp is bounded by Mill Road on the southeast, Tysens Lane on the southwest, Amboy and Richmond Roads on the northwest, and Bancroft Avenue on the no ...

, New York. Later, his son

donated a further . The Vanderbilt Family Mausoleum was designed in 1885 by

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

and landscaped by

Vanderbilt family tree

(1794–1877) **

(1821–1885) ***

(1843–1899) **** Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt (1869–1874) **** William Henry Vanderbilt II (1870–1892) ****

Cornelius Vanderbilt III Brigadier General Cornelius "Neily" Vanderbilt III (September 5, 1873 – March 1, 1942) was an American military officer, inventor, engineer, and yachtsman. He was a member of the Vanderbilt family. Early life Born in New York City to Cornelius ...

(1873–1942) ***** Cornelius Vanderbilt IV (1898–1974) **** Gertrude Vanderbilt (1875–1942) *****

Flora Payne Whitney Flora Payne Whitney, also known as Flora Whitney Miller (July 27, 1897 – July 18, 1986), was an American artist and socialite, art collector, and patron of the arts. Early life Flora Payne Whitney was born on July 27, 1897 and raised in Manhatt ...

(1897–1986) ****** Pamela Tower (1921–2013) *******

John LeBoutillier John LeBoutillier (born May 26, 1953) is an American political columnist, pundit, and former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York, serving a single two-year term. Education LeBoutillier graduated from ...

(born 1953) ******

Whitney Tower Whitney Tower (June 30, 1923 – February 11, 1999) was an American journalist reporting on Thoroughbred horse racing and a president of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Career From 1948 to 1954, Tower worked as a sports reporter f ...

(1923–1999) ******

Flora Miller Biddle Flora Miller Biddle (born 1928) is an American author, honorary chairman, and former president of the Whitney Museum of American Art, serving from 1977 to 1995. She is the granddaughter of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, the founder of the Whitney Mus ...

(born 1928) *****Barbara Whitney (1903–1983) *****

Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Cornelius "Sonny" Vanderbilt Whitney (February 20, 1899 – December 13, 1992) was an American businessman, film producer, government official, writer and philanthropist. He was also a polo player and the owner of a significant stable of Thorough ...

(1899–1992) ****

(1877–1915) ***** Governor William Henry Vanderbilt III (1901–1981) *****

Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. (September 22, 1912 – November 12, 1999) was a British-born member of the prominent Vanderbilt railroad family, and a noted figure of American thoroughbred horse racing. He was the youngest-ever member of The Jockey ...

(1912–1999) ****** Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt III (born 1949) ******* James Platten Vanderbilt (born 1975) ***** George Washington Vanderbilt III (1914–1961) ****

Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt (January 14, 1880 – September 4, 1925) was a member of the Vanderbilt family. He was the father of Gloria Vanderbilt and maternal grandfather of Anderson Cooper. An avid equestrian, Vanderbilt was the founder and pr ...

(1880–1925) *****

Cathleen Vanderbilt Cathleen Vanderbilt Arostegui (January 23, 1904 – January 25, 1944) was an American heiress and member of the Vanderbilt family. Early life Cathleen was born on January 23, 1904 in Manhattan, New York City. She was the only daughter of Reginal ...

(1904–1944) ***** Gloria Laura Vanderbilt (1924–2019) ****** Leopold Stanislaus "Stan" Stokowski (born 1950) ****** Christopher Stokowski (born 1952) ****** Carter Vanderbilt Cooper (1965–1988) ******

Anderson Hays Cooper Anderson Hays Cooper (born June 3, 1967) is an American broadcast journalist and political commentator from the Vanderbilt family. He is the primary anchor of the CNN news broadcast show '' Anderson Cooper 360°''. In addition to his duties at ...

(born 1967) ******* Wyatt Morgan Cooper (born 2020) ******* Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper (born 2022) **** Gladys Moore Vanderbilt (1886–1965) ***** Countess Cornelia "Gilia" Széchényi (1908–1958) ***** Countess Alice "Ai" Széchényi (1911–1974) ***** Countess Gladys Széchényi (1913–1978) ****** Christopher Denys Stormont Finch-Hatton, 16th Earl of Winchilsea (1936–1999) ******* Daniel Finch-Hatton, 17th Earl of Winchilsea (born 1967) ******** Tobias Finch-Hatton, Viscount Maidstone (born 1998) ***** Countess Sylvia Anita Gabriel Denise Irene Marie "Sylvie" Széchényi (1918–1998) ***** Countess Ferdinandine "Bubby" Széchényi (1923–2016) *** Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt (1845–1924) **** Florence Shepard (1869–1869) **** Maria Louise Shepard (1870–1948) **** Edith Shepard (1872–1954) **** Margaret Shepard (1873–1895) **** Alice Louise Vanderbilt Shepard (1874–1950) ***** Dave Hennen Morris Jr. (1900–1975) ***** Louise Morris (1901–1976) ***** Lawrence Morris (1903–1967) ***** Noel Morris (1904–1928) ***** Emily Hammond Morris (1907–1995) ***** Alice Vanderbilt Morris (1911–1986) **** Elliott Fitch Shepard Jr. (1876–1927) ***

(1849–1920) ****

Consuelo Vanderbilt Consuelo Vanderbilt-Balsan (formerly Consuelo Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough; born Consuelo Vanderbilt; March 2, 1877 – December 6, 1964) was a socialite and a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family. Her first marriage ...

(1877–1964) *****

John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough John Albert Edward William Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough, (18 September 1897 – 11 March 1972), styled Marquess of Blandford until 1934, was a British military officer and peer. Early life He was born in London on 18 September ...

(1897–1972) ******

John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough John George Vanderbilt Henry Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough, (13 April 1926 – 16 October 2014) was a British peer. He was the elder son of the 10th Duke of Marlborough and his wife, the Hon. Alexandra Mary Hilda Cadogan. He was ...

(1926–2014) ******* Charles James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough (born 1955) ******** George John Godolphin Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford (born 1992) ******* Lady Henrietta Mary Spencer-Churchill (born 1958) ******

Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill Lady Rosemary Mildred Muir (née Spencer-Churchill; born 24 July 1929) is an English aristocrat who served as a maid of honour to Elizabeth II at her coronation in 1953. Early life and family Lady Rosemary Mildred Spencer-Churchill was born ...

(born 1929) *****

Lord Ivor Spencer-Churchill Lord Ivor Charles Spencer-Churchill (14 October 1898 – 17 September 1956) was the younger son of the 9th Duke of Marlborough and his first wife, the former Consuelo Vanderbilt, an American railroad heiress. His elder brother, John, was the 1 ...

(1898–1956) ****

William Kissam Vanderbilt II William Kissam Vanderbilt II (October 26, 1878 – January 8, 1944) was an American motor racing enthusiast and yachtsman, and a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family. Early life He was born on October 26, 1878, in New York City, the second ...

(1878–1944) ***** Muriel Vanderbilt (1900–1972) ****

(1884–1970) ***

Emily Thorn Vanderbilt Emily Thorn Vanderbilt (January 31, 1852 – July 28, 1946) was an American philanthropist and a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family. She financed the creation of New York's Sloane Hospital for Women in 1888 with an endowment of more than $ ...

(1850–1946) **** Florence Adele Sloane (1873–1960) ***** William Douglas Burden (1898–1978) ****** Katharine Sage Burden (born 1927) ******* Katharine Sage Sohier (born 1954) ****** Andrew White Burden (born 1935) ******* William Douglas Burden III (born 1965) **** Emily Vanderbilt Sloane (1874–1970) ***** Adele Sloane Hammond (1902–1998) ****** John Vernon Bevan Olyphant (born 1941) ******* Timothy David Olyphant (born 1968) ***** John Henry Hammond Jr. (1910–1987) ****** John Paul Hammond (born 1942) **** Lila Vanderbilt Sloane (1878–1934) ***** Frederick Vanderbilt Field (1905–2000) *** Florence Adele Vanderbilt (1854–1952) **** Alice Twombly (1879–1896) **** Florence Vanderbilt Twombly (1881–1969) ***** Alice Twombly Burden (1905–1905) ***** William Armistead Moale Burden (1906–1984) ***** Shirley Carter Burden (1908–1989) ****** Shirley Carter Burden Jr. (1941–1996) **** Ruth Twombly (1884–1954) **** Hamilton McKown Twombly Jr. (1887–1906) ***

Frederick William Vanderbilt Frederick William Vanderbilt (February 2, 1856 – June 29, 1938) was a member of the American Vanderbilt family. He was a director of the New York Central Railroad for 61 years, and also a director of the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad and ...

(1856–1938) *** Eliza "Lila" Osgood Vanderbilt (1860–1936) **** James Watson Webb II (1884–1960) ***** Lila Vanderbilt Webb (1913–1961) ****** John Currie Wilmerding Jr. (born 1938) ***** James Watson Webb III (1916–2000) **** William Seward Webb Jr. (1887–1956) **** Vanderbilt Webb (1891–1956) ***

(1862–1914) ****

Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt Cecil Bulkely-Johnson Goodsir (August 22, 1900 – February 7, 1976) was an American born heiress and member of the Vanderbilt family who inherited the Biltmore Estate. She was known for her eccentric behavior. Ear ...

(1900–1976) *****

George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil (February 27, 1925 – October 19, 2020) was an American businessman who was the owner and chairman of Biltmore Farms. Biography George was the first of two sons born to John Francis Amherst Cecil (1890–1954) a ...

(1925–2020) *****

William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil (August 17, 1928 – October 31, 2017) was the operator of the Biltmore Estate through his company, The Biltmore Company. Biography Early life William Cecil was the younger son of Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbil ...

(1928–2017) ** Emily Almira Vanderbilt (1823–1896) *** William Knapp Thorn (1851–1911) *** Caroline Roberts Thorn (1858–1949) **** Jeannette Thorn Kissel (1889–1957) ***** Aline Thorn Pease (1919-2010) ****** Kenneth Peter Lyle Mackay, 4th Earl of Inchcape (born 1943) ***** Richard Thorn Pease, 3rd Baronet (1922–2021) ****** Richard Peter Pease, 4th Baronet (born 1958) ****** Nichola Pease (born 1961) ***** Derrick Alix Pease (1927–1998) ****** Jonathan Edward Pease (born 1952) **

Cornelius Jeremiah Vanderbilt Cornelius Jeremiah Vanderbilt (December 29, 1830 – April 2, 1882) was an American member of the Vanderbilt family who, after having a troubled relationship with his father, Cornelius Vanderbilt, eventually died by suicide at the age of 51. Early ...

(1830–1882)

Cornelius Vanderbilt and his descendants (by year of birth)

(1794–1877), 1st generation #

(1821–1885), 2nd generation, son of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1830–1882), 2nd generation, son of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1843–1899), 3rd generation, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt (1845–1924), 3rd generation, granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1849–1920), 3rd generation, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1850–1946), 3rd generation, granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt # William Knapp Thorn (1851–1911), 3rd generation, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Florence Adele Vanderbilt (1854–1952), 3rd generation, granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1856–1938), 3rd generation, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Eliza "Lila" Osgood Vanderbilt (1860–1936), 3rd generation, granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1862–1914), 3rd generation, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1873–1942), 4th generation, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Emily Vanderbilt Sloane (1874–1970), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Alice Louise Vanderbilt Shepard (1874–1950), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Gertrude Vanderbilt (1875–1942), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Elliott Fitch Shepard Jr. (1876–1927), 4th generation, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1877–1915), 4th generation, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1877–1964), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1878–1944), 4th generation, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1880–1925), 4th generation, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # James Watson Webb II (1884–1960), 4th generation, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1884–1970), 4th generation, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Gladys Moore Vanderbilt (1886–1965), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1897–1986), 5th generation, great-great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1897–1972), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Cornelius Vanderbilt IV (1898–1974), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # William Douglas Burden (1898–1978), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1898–1956), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1899–1992), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Muriel Vanderbilt (1900–1972), 5th generation, great-great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1900–1976), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Governor William Henry Vanderbilt III (1901–1981) # Mary Cathleen Vanderbilt (1904–1944) # Frederick Vanderbilt Field (1905–2000) # William Armistead Moale Burden II (1906–1984) # Shirley Carter Burden (1908–1989), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # John Henry Hammond Jr. (1910–1987), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1912–1999), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # George Washington Vanderbilt III (1914–1961), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # James Watson Webb III (1916–2000) # Sir Richard Thorn Pease, 3rd Baronet (1922–2021) #

(1923–1999) # Gloria Laura Vanderbilt (1924–2019) #

(1925–2020) #

(1926–2014), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) #

(1928–2017) #

(born 1928) #

(born 1929) # Christopher Denys Stormont Finch-Hatton, 16th Earl of Winchilsea (1936–1999), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) #

(born 1938), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) # Shirley Carter Burden Jr. (1941–1996), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) # John Paul Hammond (born 1942), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) # Kenneth Peter Lyle Mackay, 4th Earl of Inchcape (born 1943), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) # Jonathan Edward Pease (born 1952), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) #

(born 1953), 7th generation (4 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) # Sage Sohier (born 1954), 7th generation (4 × great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt) # Charles James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough (born 1955), 7th generation (4 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) # Sir Richard Peter Pease, 4th Baronet (born 1958), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) # Lady Henrietta Mary Spencer-Churchill (born 1958), 7th generation (4 × great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt) # Nichola Pease (born 1961), 6th generation (3 × great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt) # William Douglas Burden III (born 1965), 7th generation (4 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) #

(born 1967), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) # Daniel Finch-Hatton, 17th Earl of Winchilsea (born 1967), 7th generation (4 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) # Timothy David Olyphant (born 1968), 7th generation (4 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) # James Platten Vanderbilt (born 1975), 7th generation (4 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) # George John Godolphin Spencer-Churchill, Marquess of Blandford (born 1992), 8th generation (5 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt)

Other Vanderbilt descendants, but not of Cornelius Vanderbilt

Amy Vanderbilt Amy Osborne Vanderbilt (July 22, 1908 – December 27, 1974) was an American authority on etiquette. In 1952 she published the best-selling book ''Amy Vanderbilt's Complete Book of Etiquette''. The book, later retitled ''Amy Vanderbilt's Etiquet ...

(1908–1974) — believed to be a descended from either a brother or a cousin of Cornelius Vanderbilt

Spouses of descendants of Cornelius Vanderbilt (by year of birth)

# Horace F. Clark (1815–1873): 1st husband of Maria Louisa Vanderbilt # Nicholas B. La Bau (1823–1873): 1st husband of Mary Alicia Vanderbilt #

Elliott Fitch Shepard Elliott Fitch Shepard (July 25, 1833 – March 24, 1893) was a New York lawyer, banker, and owner of the '' Mail and Express'' newspaper, as well as a founder and president of the New York State Bar Association. Shepard was married to Marga ...

(1833–1893): husband of

Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt Shepard Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt Shepard (New Dorp, July 23, 1845 – Manhattan, March 3, 1924) was an American heiress and a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family. As a philanthropist, she funded the YMCA, helping create a hotel for guests of the o ...

# Frank Armstrong Crawford Vanderbilt (1839–1885): 2nd wife of

William Douglas Sloane William Douglas Sloane (February 29, 1844 – March 19, 1915) was an American businessman, sportsman, philanthropist, and member of New York society during the Gilded Age. Early life Sloane was born in New York City on February 29, 1844. He was t ...

(1844–1915): 1st husband of

Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt (; November 11, 1845 – April 24, 1934) was the wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt II and reigned as the matriarch of the Vanderbilt family for over 60 years. Early life and relatives Alice Claypoole Gwynne was born on Novem ...

(1845–1934): wife of

Hamilton McKown Twombly Hamilton McKown Twombly Sr. (August 11, 1849 – January 11, 1910) was an American businessman. Early life Hamilton McKown Twombly Sr. was born on August 11, 1849 in Middlesex County, Massachusetts and grew up in Boston. His parents were Alexand ...

(1849–1910): husband of

Florence Adele Vanderbilt Twombly Florence Adele Vanderbilt Twombly (January 8, 1854 – April 11, 1952) was an American socialite and heiress. She was a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family. She and her husband Hamilton McKown Twombly built Florham, a gilded age estate in M ...

# Henry White (1850–1927): 2nd husband of Emily Thorn Vanderbilt #

William Seward Webb William Seward Webb (January 31, 1851 – October 29, 1926) was a businessman, and inspector general of the Vermont militia with the rank of colonel. He was a founder and former president of the Sons of the American Revolution. Early life Webb ...

(1851–1926): husband of

Eliza Osgood Vanderbilt Webb Eliza Osgood Vanderbilt Webb (September 20, 1860 – July 10, 1936) was an American heiress.

# Alva Belmont (1853–1933): 1st wife of

# Louise Vanderbilt (1854–1926): wife of

Anne Harriman Vanderbilt Anne Harriman Sands Rutherfurd Vanderbilt (February 17, 1861 – April 20, 1940) was an American heiress known for her marriages to prominent men and her role in the development of the Sutton Place neighborhood as a fashionable place to live. Ea ...

(1861–1940): 2nd wife of William Kissam Vanderbilt # Richard M. Tobin (1866–1952): 2nd husband of Florence Adele Sloane #

Jacques Balsan Louis Jacques Balsan (September 16, 1868 – November 4, 1956) was a French aviator and industrialist, born at Châteauroux (Indre) in 1868, who was the second husband of society beauty Consuelo Vanderbilt, Duchess of Marlborough. He married h ...

(1868–1956): 2nd husband of

# Grace Vanderbilt (1870–1953): wife of

# James A. Burden Jr. (1871–1932): 1st husband of Florence Adele Sloane #

Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough Charles Richard John Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough, (13 November 1871 – 30 June 1934), styled Earl of Sunderland until 1883 and Marquess of Blandford between 1883 and 1892, was a British soldier and Conservative politician, and a ...

(1871–1934): 1st husband of Consuelo Vanderbilt #

Dave Hennen Morris Dave Hennen Morris (April 24, 1872 – May 4, 1944) was an American lawyer, diplomat, and Thoroughbred racehorse owner who co-founded the International Auxiliary Language Association (IALA). Early life Morris was born in New Orleans, Louisian ...

(1872–1944): husband of

Alice Vanderbilt Morris Alice Vanderbilt Shepard Morris (December 7, 1874 – August 15, 1950) was a member of the Vanderbilt family. She co-founded the International Auxiliary Language Association (IALA). Early life Alice was born on December 7, 1874 in New York. Sh ...

Harry Payne Whitney Harry Payne Whitney (April 29, 1872 – October 26, 1930) was an American businessman, thoroughbred horse breeder, and member of the prominent Whitney family. Early years Whitney was born in New York City on April 29, 1872, as the eldest son ...

(1872–1930): husband of

# Edith Stuyvesant Gerry (1873–1958): wife of

Virginia Fair Vanderbilt Virginia Fair Vanderbilt (January 2, 1875 – July 7, 1935) was an American socialite, hotel builder/owner, philanthropist, owner of Fair Stable, a Thoroughbred racehorse operation, and a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family by marriage. ...

(1875–1935): 1st wife of

# George G. McMurtry (1876–1958): 4th husband of Teresa Sarah Margaret Fabbri # László Széchenyi (1879–1938): husband of Gladys Vanderbilt Széchenyi # Ralph Pulitzer (1879–1939): 1st husband of Frederica Vanderbilt Webb #

Leopold Stokowski Leopold Anthony Stokowski (18 April 1882 – 13 September 1977) was a British conductor. One of the leading conductors of the early and mid-20th century, he is best known for his long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra and his appeara ...

(1882–1977): 2nd husband of

Electra Havemeyer Webb Electra Havemeyer Webb (August 16, 1888 – November 19, 1960) was a collector of American antiques and founder of the Shelburne Museum. Early life Electra Havemeyer was born on August 16, 1888. She was the youngest child of Henry Osborne Have ...

(1888–1960): wife of James Watson Webb II # Frederick Osborn (1889–1981): husband of Margaret Louisa Schieffelin # John Francis Amherst Cecil (1890–1954): 1st husband of

# Vivian Francis Bulkeley-Johnson (1891–1968): 2nd husband of Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt #

Aileen Osborn Webb Aileen Osborn Webb (1892–1979) was an American aristocrat and a patron of crafts.Joyce LovelaceWho Was Aileen Osborn Webb? July 25, 2011, American Craft CouncilBarbara LovenheimCrafting Modernism, NYCityWoman.comSandra Alfoldy, ''Crafting Identi ...

(1892–1979): wife of Vanderbilt Webb # Frederic Cameron Church Jr. (1897–1983): 1st husband of Muriel Vanderbilt #

John J. Emery John Josiah Emery Jr. (January 28, 1898 — September 24, 1976) was an American real estate developer. He was the developer of the Carew Tower (1931) in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the time the tallest building west of the Alleghenies, and the Netherland ...

(1898–1976): 2nd husband of Adele Sloane Hammond # Jack Speiden (1900–1970): 2nd husband of Rachel Hammond # Arthur Duckworth (1901–1986): 1st husband of Alice Frances Hammond # Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt (1901–1978): wife of

Marie Norton Harriman Marie Harriman ( ''née'' Norton, formerly Whitney; April 12, 1903September 26, 1970) was an American art collector and First Lady of New York from 1955 to 1958. She was the second wife of former New York Governor and diplomat Averell Harriman. ...

(1903–1970): 1st wife of

# Charles Bosanquet (1903–1986): husband of Barbara Schieffelin # Earl E. T. Smith (1903–1991): 1st husband of Consuelo Vanderbilt Earl # Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt (1904–1965): 2nd wife of

# Dunbar Bostwick (1908–2006): husband of Electra Webb # George W. Headley (1908–1985): 3rd husband of Barbara Vanderbilt Whitney # Eleanor Searle (1908–2002): 3rd wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney #

Pat DiCicco Pasquale "Pat" DiCicco (; February 14, 1909 – October 24, 1978) was an American agent, movie producer, and occasional actor, as well as an alleged mobster working for Lucky Luciano. He was married three times, including to Thelma Todd and ...

(1909–1978): 1st husband of Gloria Vanderbilt # Benny Goodman (1909–1986): 2nd husband of Alice Frances Hammond #

Edward P. Morgan Edward Paddock Morgan (June 23, 1910 – January 27, 1993) was an American journalist and writer who reported for newspapers, radio, and television media services including ABC, CBS networks, and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). A native o ...

(1910–1993): 2nd husband of Katharine Sage Burden # Christopher Finch-Hatton, 15th Earl of Winchilsea (1911–1950): 1st husband of Countess Gladys Széchényi # Edwin F. Russell (1914–2001): 1st husband of Lady Sarah Consuelo Spencer-Churchill # Laura Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (1915–1990): 2nd wife of

Louis Auchincloss Louis Stanton Auchincloss (; September 27, 1917 – January 26, 2010)Holcomb B. Noble and Charles McGrath''The New York Times''. Retrieved on January 27, 2010. was an American lawyer, novelist, historian, and essayist. He is best known as a novel ...

(1917–2010): husband of Adele Burden Lawrence # Kenneth James William Mackay, 3rd Earl of Inchcape (1917–1994): 2nd husband of Aline Thorn Pease #

Orin Lehman Orin Allan Lehman (January 24, 1920 – February 22, 2008) was an American public servant who served as New York State’s longest-serving commissioner of New York State Office of Parks and Recreation. Early life Lehman was born to a Jewish ...

(1920–2008): husband of Wendy Vanderbilt #

Edwin D. Morgan Edwin Denison Morgan (February 8, 1811February 14, 1883) was the 21st governor of New York from 1859 to 1862 and served in the United States Senate from 1863 to 1869. He was the first and longest-serving chairman of the Republican National Comm ...

(1921–2001): 1st husband of Nancy Marie Whitney # Charles Scribner IV (1921–1995): husband of Jeanette "Joan" Kissel Sunderland #

Stanley Schachter Stanley Schachter (April 15, 1922 – June 7, 1997) was an American social psychologist, who is perhaps best known for his development of the two factor theory of emotion in 1962 along with Jerome E. Singer. In his theory he states that emotion ...

(1922–1997): husband of Sophia Duckworth #

Sidney Lumet Sidney Arthur Lumet ( ; June 25, 1924 – April 9, 2011) was an American film director. He was nominated five times for the Academy Award: four for Best Director for '' 12 Angry Men'' (1957), ''Dog Day Afternoon'' (1975), ''Network'' (1976) ...

(1924–2011): 3rd husband of Gloria Vanderbilt # Marylou Whitney (1925–2019): 4th wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney #

Wyatt Emory Cooper Wyatt Emory Cooper (September 1, 1927 – January 5, 1978) was an American author, screenwriter, and actor. He was the fourth husband of Vanderbilt family heiress and socialite Gloria Vanderbilt and the father of CNN anchor Anderson Cooper.

(1927–1978): 4th husband of Gloria Vanderbilt # Tina Onassis Niarchos (1929–1974): 2nd wife of

Rosalba Neri Rosalba Neri (born 19 June 1939) is a retired Italian actress. Early life Born in Forlì, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, Neri was regarded for her beauty even in youth, winning a beauty pageant when she was still young. Eventually pursuing an acting c ...

(born 1939): 3rd wife of Henry Cooke Cushing IV # Rosita Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (born 1943): 3rd wife of John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough #

Amanda Burden Amanda Jay Mortimer Burden ( Mortimer; January 18, 1944) is a principal at Bloomberg Associates, an international consulting service founded by Michael Bloomberg as a philanthropic venture to help city governments improve the quality of life of ...

(born 1944): 1st wife of Carter Burden # Neil Balfour (born 1944): 3rd husband of Serena Mary Churchill Russell #

James Toback James Toback (; born November 23, 1944) is an American film director and screenwriter. His screenplay for ''Bugsy'' won the 1991 Los Angeles Film Critics Association award for best screenplay of the year and was nominated for both the Academy Awa ...

(born 1944): 1st husband of Consuelo Sarah Churchill Vanderbilt Russell # David Rosengarten (born 1950): husband of Constance Crimmins Childs # John Silvester Varley (born 1956): husband of Carolyn Thorn Pease # Crispin Odey (born 1959): husband of Nichola Pease # Edla Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (born 1968): 2nd wife of James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough

References