Cornelius (Neil) Vanderbilt IV; 1898-1974

The son of Grace and Cornelius Vanderbilt III, Neil served in the First World War and was discharged a Lieutenant. To his parents dismay, he decided to become a newspaperman. His parents detested the press as they were considered an invasion of their privacy. He worked as a staff member of the New York Herald, and then the New York Times. Considered a Bohemian by his parents, and frequently was at odds with them.

In the early 1920's, Neil launched several newspapers and tabloids. Claiming to uphold the highest standards of journalistic excellence, the publishings lasted only 2 and a half years when Vanderbilt Inc. ceased operations with losses amounting to nearly $6 million dollars. From there, Neil went to work as an Assistant Managing Editor of the New York Daily Mirror.

In addition to authoring "Farewell to Fifth Avenue", memoirs of Cornelius Vanderbilt IV., Neil published other novels, including a biography of his mother titled "Queen of the Golden Age".

In 1920, Neil married a well-connected New York socialite named Rachel Littleton, but were divorced in 1927. Neil was to marry 6 more times.

Neil made his home in Reno, Nevada and continued to write and lecture on world affairs and was a strong supporter of the new state of Israel.

He died childless in 1974.

--69.173.74.155 20:27, 25 October 2005 (UTC)Stephen Mraz