Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt was an American businessman who lived in the 19th century. Born in Staten Island, New York in 1794, Vanderbilt was the oldest of nine children in a poor family. Despite limited formal education, he went on to become one of the richest men in American history. Vanderbilt made his fortune in transportation.
He started with a ferry service in New York Harbor and eventually built a vast empire of steamships, railroads, and other transportation companies. Vanderbilt also donated large sums to various causes. His largest gift was a $1 million donation to what is now known as Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Cornelius Vanderbilt died in 1877, leaving an estate valued at over $100 million. This made him one of the richest men in American history.
