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 Wes ...

. 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 ...

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

; luxurious "summer cottages" in Newport, Rhode Island; the palatial Biltmore House in Asheville, 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 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 a ...

, 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' ''The ...

, musician John P. Hammond, screenwriter James Vanderbilt, and the Duke of Marlborough.

History

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

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 Netherl ...

, 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 ...

as an

indentured servant Indentured servitude is a form of Work (human activity), 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 compensa ...

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 original counties of the U.S. state ...

). 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 Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located in the city's southwest portion, the borough is separated from New Jersey b ...

family of modest means. Through his paternal great-great grandmother, Abigail Southard, he descends from Republic of Salé President Jan Janszoon and his son

Anthony Janszoon van Salee Anthony Janszoon van Salee (1607–1676) was an original settler of and prominent landholder, merchant, and creditor in New Netherland. Van Salee is believed to be the son of Jan Janszoon (Jan Jansen), a Dutch pirate who after 1619 served a Mooris ...

. 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 ...

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

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 steambo ...

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 ...

. 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 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 amo ...

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

remained a member of the

Moravian Church The Moravian Church ( cs, Moravská církev), or the Moravian Brethren, formally the (Latin: "Unity of the Brethren"), is one of the oldest Protestantism, Protestant Christian denomination, denominations in Christianity, dating back to the Bohem ...

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. Shortly before his death in 1877, Vanderbilt donated US$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, 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 Mi ...

, 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, 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. He also built The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island. Cornelius II's brother, William Kissam Vanderbilt, 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 terminus ...

. He also built Marble House at 596 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island. George Washington Vanderbilt II, the 3rd and youngest son of William Henry Vanderbilt 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- ...

to construct

Biltmore Estate 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 ...

on near Asheville, North Carolina. The 250 room mansion and of floor space remains on top of the

list of largest houses in the United States This is a list of the 100+ largest extant and historic houses in the United States, ordered by area of the main house. The list includes houses that have been demolished, houses that are currently under construction, and buildings that are not cu ...

to date. While some of Cornelius Vanderbilt's descendants gained fame in business, others achieved prominence in other ways, e.g.: * Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt (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 William Henry Vanderbilt III (November 24, 1901April 14, 1981) was Governor of Rhode Island and a member of the wealthy and socially prominent Vanderbilt family. Early life William Henry Vanderbilt III was born in New York City on November 24, ...

was Governor of Rhode Island. *Alfred's second son Alfred Jr. became a noted horse breeder and racing elder. * Harold Stirling Vanderbilt (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 ...

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

. *

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 moth ...

(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 was a sculptor, art patron and collector, and founder of the Whitney Museum of American Art In 1855, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt donated of property to the Moravian Church and Cemetery at New Dorp on

, New York. Later, his son William Henry Vanderbilt 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) ** William Henry Vanderbilt (1821–1885) *** Cornelius Vanderbilt II (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 Corneliu ...

(1873–1942) ***** Cornelius Vanderbilt IV (1898–1974) **** Gertrude Vanderbilt (1875–1942) ***** Flora Payne Whitney (1897–1986) ****** Pamela Tower (1921–2013) ******* John LeBoutillier (born 1953) ****** Whitney Tower (1923–1999) ****** Flora Miller Biddle (born 1928) *****Barbara Whitney (1903–1983) ***** Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney (1899–1992) **** Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt (1877–1915) ***** Governor William Henry Vanderbilt III (1901–1981) ***** Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. (1912–1999) ****** Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt III (born 1949) ******* James Platten Vanderbilt (born 1975) *****

George Washington Vanderbilt III George Washington Vanderbilt III (September 23, 1914 – June 24, 1961) was an American yachtsman and scientific explorer who was a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family. Early life Born in Newport, Rhode Island, he was the younger son of Alfr ...

(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 Regina ...

(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 (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 Daniel is a masculine given name and a surname of Hebrew origin. It means "God is my judge"Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 68. (cf. Gabriel—"God is my strength"), ...

(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 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 ...

(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) *** William Kissam Vanderbilt (1849–1920) **** Consuelo Vanderbilt (1877–1964) ***** John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough (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 (born 1929) ***** Lord Ivor Spencer-Churchill (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 seco ...

(1878–1944) ***** Muriel Vanderbilt (1900–1972) **** Harold Stirling Vanderbilt (1884–1970) *** Emily Thorn Vanderbilt (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 Emily Vanderbilt Sloane Hammond (September 17, 1874 – February 22, 1970) was an author, philanthropist, and socialite. She was a member of the Vanderbilt family, and mother of music producer John Hammond. She was a keen musician and was presiden ...

(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 Frederick Vanderbilt Field (April 13, 1905 – February 1, 2000) was an American leftist political activist, political writer and a great-great-grandson of railroad tycoon Cornelius "Commodore" Vanderbilt, disinherited by his wealthy relatives fo ...

(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 (1856–1938) *** Eliza "Lila" Osgood Vanderbilt (1860–1936) ****

James Watson Webb II James Watson Webb II (known as James Sr.) (July 1, 1884 – March 4, 1960) was an American polo champion and insurance executive. He was a grandson of William Henry Vanderbilt and James Watson Webb. Early life Webb was born on July 1, 1884 in Bur ...

(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) *** George Washington Vanderbilt II (1862–1914) **** Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt (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) an ...

(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 Vanderbilt ...

(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 (1830–1882)

Cornelius Vanderbilt and his descendants (by year of birth)

(1794–1877), 1st generation # William Henry Vanderbilt (1821–1885), 2nd generation, son of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Cornelius Jeremiah Vanderbilt (1830–1882), 2nd generation, son of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Cornelius Vanderbilt II (1843–1899), 3rd generation, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1845–1924), 3rd generation, granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt # William Kissam Vanderbilt (1849–1920), 3rd generation, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Emily Thorn 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 # Frederick William Vanderbilt (1856–1938), 3rd generation, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Eliza "Lila" Osgood Vanderbilt (1860–1936), 3rd generation, granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt # George Washington Vanderbilt II (1862–1914), 3rd generation, grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1873–1942), 4th generation, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

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

(1884–1960), 4th generation, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Harold Stirling Vanderbilt (1884–1970), 4th generation, great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Gladys Moore Vanderbilt (1886–1965), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Flora Payne Whitney (1897–1986), 5th generation, great-great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt # John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough (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 # Lord Ivor Spencer-Churchill (1898–1956), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney (1899–1992), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Muriel Vanderbilt (1900–1972), 5th generation, great-great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt (1900–1976), 4th generation, great-granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt # Governor William Henry Vanderbilt III (1901–1981) # Mary Cathleen Vanderbilt (1904–1944) #

(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 # Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr. (1912–1999), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt #

(1914–1961), 5th generation, great-great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt # James Watson Webb III (1916–2000) # Sir Richard Thorn Pease, 3rd Baronet (1922–2021) # Whitney Tower (1923–1999) # Gloria Laura Vanderbilt (1924–2019) #

(1925–2020) #

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

(1928–2017) # Flora Miller Biddle (born 1928) # Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill (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) # John LeBoutillier (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) # Anderson Hays Cooper (born 1967), 6th generation (3 × great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt) #

(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 (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 (1833–1893): husband of Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt Shepard #

Frank Armstrong Crawford Vanderbilt Frank Armstrong Crawford Vanderbilt (January 18, 1839 – May 4, 1885) was an American socialite and philanthropist. During the American Civil War, she was a strong supporter of the Confederate States of America. After the war, she lived in New ...

(1839–1885): 2nd wife of

# William Douglas Sloane (1844–1915): 1st husband of Emily Thorn Vanderbilt #

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 Nov ...

(1845–1934): wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt II # Hamilton McKown Twombly (1849–1910): husband of Florence Adele Vanderbilt Twombly # Henry White (1850–1927): 2nd husband of Emily Thorn Vanderbilt # William Seward Webb (1851–1926): husband of Eliza Osgood Vanderbilt Webb #

Alva Belmont Alva Erskine Belmont (née Smith; January 17, 1853 – January 26, 1933), known as Alva Vanderbilt from 1875 to 1896, was an American multi-millionaire socialite and women's suffrage activist. She was noted for her energy, intelligence, strong ...

(1853–1933): 1st wife of William Kissam Vanderbilt #

Louise Vanderbilt Louise Holmes Anthony Vanderbilt (September 4, 1854 – August 21, 1926) was an American heiress and socialite. Her philanthropist causes included educational opportunities and entertainments for the local community near her Hyde Park, New York ...

(1854–1926): wife of Frederick William Vanderbilt # Anne Harriman Vanderbilt (1861–1940): 2nd wife of William Kissam Vanderbilt #

Richard M. Tobin Richard Montgomery Tobin (April 9, 1866 – January 23, 1952) was an American banker and diplomat. He was a civic leader and philanthropist in San Francisco, California and served as United States Minister to the Netherlands. Early life Rich ...

(1866–1952): 2nd husband of Florence Adele Sloane # Jacques Balsan (1868–1956): 2nd husband of Consuelo Vanderbilt #

Grace Vanderbilt Grace Graham Vanderbilt ( Wilson; September 3, 1870 – January 7, 1953) was an American socialite. She was the wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt III. She was one of the last Vanderbilts to live the luxurious life of the "head of society" that her pred ...

(1870–1953): wife of

# James A. Burden Jr. (1871–1932): 1st husband of Florence Adele Sloane # Charles Spencer-Churchill, 9th Duke of Marlborough (1871–1934): 1st husband of Consuelo Vanderbilt # Dave Hennen Morris (1872–1944): husband of Alice Vanderbilt Morris # Harry Payne Whitney (1872–1930): husband of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney # Edith Stuyvesant Gerry (1873–1958): wife of George Washington Vanderbilt II # Virginia Fair Vanderbilt (1875–1935): 1st wife of

# George G. McMurtry (1876–1958): 4th husband of Teresa Sarah Margaret Fabbri #

László Széchenyi Count László Széchenyi de Sárvár-Felsővidék (18 February 1879 – 5 July 1938) was an Austro Hungarian military officer, Imperial Chamberlain, diplomat and venture capitalist. His great-uncle was István Széchenyi. László Széchenyi mar ...

(1879–1938): husband of

Gladys Vanderbilt Széchenyi Gladys Moore Vanderbilt, Countess Széchenyi (August 27, 1886 – January 29, 1965), was an American heiress from the Vanderbilt family and wife of Hungarian Count László Széchenyi. Early life She was born as Gladys Moore Vanderbilt ...

Ralph Pulitzer Ralph Pulitzer (June 11, 1879 – June 14, 1939) was an American heir, newspaper publisher and author. He served as the president of the Press Publishing Co., which published the ''New York World'' and the '' Evening World''. Early life Ralph Pul ...

(1879–1939): 1st husband of Frederica Vanderbilt Webb # Leopold Stokowski (1882–1977): 2nd husband of

# Electra Havemeyer Webb (1888–1960): wife of

# Frederick Osborn (1889–1981): husband of Margaret Louisa Schieffelin #

John Francis Amherst Cecil John Francis Amherst Cecil (30 June 1890 – 22 October 1954) was the first secretary of the British Embassy, Washington, known for his marriage to Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt. Early life John Francis Amherst Cecil was born on 30 June 1890 in ...

(1890–1954): 1st husband of Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt #

Vivian Francis Bulkeley-Johnson Vivian Francis Bulkeley-Johnson (15 January 1891 – 14 February 1968) was the aide-de-camp to Victor Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire, the Governor General of Canada from 1916 to 1918. He served in the offices of the Imperial War Cabinet in ...

(1891–1968): 2nd husband of Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt # Aileen Osborn Webb (1892–1979): wife of Vanderbilt Webb #

Frederic Cameron Church Jr. Frederic Cameron Church Jr. (May 22, 1897 – November 14, 1983) was an American businessman. His father founded Fred C. Church Insurance company in 1865 as a sole proprietorship in Lowell, Massachusetts. Fred. C. Church, Inc. currently has arou ...

(1897–1983): 1st husband of Muriel Vanderbilt # John J. Emery (1898–1976): 2nd husband of Adele Sloane Hammond #

Jack Speiden John G. F. Speiden (March 4, 1900 − July 30, 1970) was an American stockbroker and ranch owner. Speiden fought in both World Wars, attended Yale and received a letter for football while playing on the hockey team, taught in China, worked on Wall ...

(1900–1970): 2nd husband of Rachel Hammond # Arthur Duckworth (1901–1986): 1st husband of Alice Frances Hammond #

Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt (1901 - August 6, 1978) was an American socialite and philanthropist. She was one of the first women to compete in the America's Cup alongside her husband, Harold Stirling Vanderbilt, in 1934 and 1937. Early life Gert ...

(1901–1978): wife of Harold Stirling Vanderbilt # Marie Norton Harriman (1903–1970): 1st wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney #

Charles Bosanquet Charles Bosanquet (23 July 1769 – 20 June 1850) was an English colonial official and writer. Life He was born at Forest House, Essex, the second son of Samuel Bosanquet and Eleanor Hunter. He was educated at Newcome's School and then in Swi ...

(1903–1986): husband of Barbara Schieffelin #

Earl E. T. Smith Earl Edward Tailer Smith (July 8, 1903 – February 15, 1991) was an American financier and diplomat, who served as ambassador to Cuba from 1957 to 1959 and mayor of Palm Beach 1971 to 1977. Early life Smith was born in Newport, Rhode Island ...

(1903–1991): 1st husband of Consuelo Vanderbilt Earl #

Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt (born Maria Mercedes Morgan; 23 August 1904 13 February 1965) was an American socialite best known as the mother of fashion designer and artist Gloria Vanderbilt and maternal grandmother of television journalist Anderson ...

(1904–1965): 2nd wife of

Dunbar Bostwick Dunbar Wright Bostwick (January 10, 1908 – January 25, 2006) was an American businessman, hockey player, pilot and horseman. Biography Dunbar Bostwick was the fourth child of Albert Carlton Bostwick Sr. and Mary Lillian Stokes. His father was ...

(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 (1909–1978): 1st husband of Gloria Vanderbilt #

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His conc ...

(1909–1986): 2nd husband of Alice Frances Hammond # Edward P. Morgan (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 Frances Laura Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (''née'' Charteris; 10 August 1915 – 19 February 1990), was a British noblewoman and socialite. She was variously Viscountess Long, Countess of Dudley and became Duchess of Marlborough u ...

(1915–1990): 2nd wife of John Spencer-Churchill, 10th Duke of Marlborough # Louis Auchincloss (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 (1920–2008): husband of Wendy Vanderbilt # Edwin D. Morgan (1921–2001): 1st husband of Nancy Marie Whitney #

Charles Scribner IV Charles Scribner IV (July 13, 1921 – November 11, 1995), also known as Charles Scribner Jr., was the head of the Charles Scribner's Sons publishing company. He was a resident of Manhattan for most of his adult life, establishing a residence in t ...

(1921–1995): husband of Jeanette "Joan" Kissel Sunderland # Stanley Schachter (1922–1997): husband of Sophia Duckworth # Sidney Lumet (1924–2011): 3rd husband of Gloria Vanderbilt #

Marylou Whitney Marie Louise "Marylou" Whitney (née Schroeder; December 24, 1925 – July 19, 2019) was an American socialite and philanthropist. A prominent owner and breeder of thoroughbred racehorses, Whitney was notable for "reigning for decades as the soci ...

(1925–2019): 4th wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney # Wyatt Emory Cooper (1927–1978): 4th husband of Gloria Vanderbilt #

Tina Onassis Niarchos Athina Mary "Tina" Onassis Niarchos (; el, Αθηνά (Τίνα) Λιβανού, ; 19 March 1929 – 10 October 1974) was an English-born Greek-French socialite and shipping heiress, the second daughter of the Greek shipping magnate Stavros Li ...

(1929–1974): 2nd wife of

# Rosalba Neri (born 1939): 3rd wife of Henry Cooke Cushing IV #

Rosita Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough Dagmar Rosita Astrid Libertas, Duchess of Marlborough (née Douglas, sometimes Spencer-Churchill; born 26 September 1943, Madrid), is a British artist of Swedish and German descent. She was the third wife of John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of M ...

(born 1943): 3rd wife of John Spencer-Churchill, 11th Duke of Marlborough # Amanda Burden (born 1944): 1st wife of Carter Burden # Neil Balfour (born 1944): 3rd husband of Serena Mary Churchill Russell # James Toback (born 1944): 1st husband of Consuelo Sarah Churchill Vanderbilt Russell #

David Rosengarten David Rosengarten (born January 25, 1950) is an American chef, author and television personality, who hosted or co-hosted more than 2500 television shows on the Food Network from 1994 to 2001. Personal life Rosengarten was born in New York City ' ...

(born 1950): husband of Constance Crimmins Childs # John Silvester Varley (born 1956): husband of Carolyn Thorn Pease #

Crispin Odey Robin Crispin William Odey (born January 1959)O'Hannelly, Padraig"Investment Greats: Crispin Odey" Motley Fool, 2 October 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2012. is a London-based hedge fund manager and the founding partner of Odey Asset Management. In ...

(born 1959): husband of Nichola Pease #

Edla Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough Edla Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (''née'' Griffiths; born 1968), is a British ceramist and aristocrat. She is the second wife of Jamie Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough. Early life and career The Duchess of Marlboro ...

(born 1968): 2nd wife of

James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough Charles James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough (born 24 November 1955), styled Earl of Sunderland until March 1972 and Marquess of Blandford until October 2014, and often known as Jamie Blandford or Jamie Marlborough, is an English ...

References