Cornelius Vanderbilt III

Cornelius Vanderbilt III (September 5, 1873 - March 1, 1942) was a distinguished American military officer, inventor, engineer, and yachtsman, and a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family. This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ... This image is in the public domain in the United States and possibly other jurisdictions. ... September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years). ... 1873 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... March 1 is the 60th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (61st in leap years). ... This article is about the year. ... This article details the family of Cornelius Vanderbilt. ...

Called "Neily" by his close friends, he was the great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and son of Alice Claypoole Gwynne and Cornelius Vanderbilt II. Born in New York City, he was educated by private tutors at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire before attending Yale University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1895. Against his father's wishes that actually led to physical blows, in August of 1896 he married Grace Graham Wilson. Remaining at Yale until 1899, he earned a Bachelor of Philosophy degree and, having a great deal of interest in the mechanical and engineering aspects of his family’s railroad business, he also earned a degree in mechanical engineering. Cornelius Vanderbilt Cornelius Vanderbilt (May 27, 1794 – January 4, 1877) was a U.S. entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads and is the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family. ... Cornelius Vanderbilt II (November 27, 1843 – September 12, 1899) was a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family. ... Midtown Manhattan, looking north from the Empire State Building, 2005 New York City (officially named the City of New York) is the most populous city in the United States, the most densely populated major city in North America, and is at the center of international finance, politics, entertainment, and culture. ... St. ... Location in New Hampshire Founded  -Incorporated 1725 1856  County Merrimack County Mayor Michael L. Donovan Area  - Total  - Water 174. ... For other uses, see Yale (disambiguation). ... The Ford Essex V6 engine Mechanical engineering is the application of physical principles to the creation of useful devices, objects and machines. ...

Ostracized by his parents and even to some extent by his siblings, on his father's death in 1899 Neily Vanderbilt received only $500,000 in cash and the income from a $1 million trust fund. The bulk of his father's $70 million estate went to Neily's brother, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt who then helped undo some of his father's enmity and gifted Neily the amount of $6 million. In addition, his uncle, George Washington Vanderbilt, left him a Fifth Avenue three-story brownstone mansion where he and his wife lived for many years. However, as a result of his parent's attitude towards his marriage, it would be 27 years after his father's death before he finally reconciled with his aging mother. Neily and Grace Vanderbilt remained married for the rest of their lives and had two children, Cornelius, Jr., born in 1898 who would marry seven times, and a daughter Grace, born in 1900. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, born October 20, 1877 - died May 7, 1915, was a sportsman and a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family. ... George Washington Vanderbilt (1839-1864) was an American soldier and member of the prominent Vanderbilt family. ... Street sign at Fifth Avenue and East 57th street Fifth Avenue is a major thoroughfare in New York City. ...

Neily Vanderbilt was an inveterate tinkerer with all things mechanical and during his lifetime he patented more than thirty inventions for improving locomotives and freight cars, including several which brought him a significant royalty income. Some of the most important were a corrugated firebox for locomotives that resulted in a substantial increase in fuel efficiency plus a cylindrical styled tank car for the transport of bulk oil as well as a revolutionary type of locomotive tender. In addition, on his travels to London and Paris he saw the potential for adapting their subway systems for New York City and partnered with August Belmont, Jr. to establish the Interborough Rapid Transit Company for the construction of the city's first subway. The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster, which contains Big Ben London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... The Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... August Belmont, Jr. ... The Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) was the operator of the original New York Subway line that opened in 1904 and additional rapid transit lines in the City of New York. ...

In 1901, he was made a Second Lieutenant in the Twelfth Infantry Regiment of the New York National Guard and remained a member of the military for 33 years. He fought in the border wars with Mexico in 1916, and in World War I served overseas as commander of the 102nd Engineers. Rising through the ranks to Brigadier General, he was placed in command of the 25th Infrantry Brigade. For his services during the War, he was given the Distinguished Service Medal by the government of the United States, the New York State Conspicuous Service Medal, made a commander of the Order of the Crown of Belgium and awarded that country's Croix de Guerre. The government of France made him a Commander of the Legion of Honor. World War I was primarily a European conflict with many facets: immense human sacrifice, stalemate trench warfare, and the use of new, devastating weapons - tanks, aircraft, machineguns, and poison gas. ... The Distinguished Service Medal (D.S.M.) is a military decoration for courage. ... The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of both Belgium and France which was first created in 1915. ... French Legion of Honor The Légion dhonneur (in Legion of Honor (AmE) or Legion of Honour (ComE)) is an Order of Chivalry awarded by the President of France. ...

Following the War, Vanderbilt and his wife frequently returned to Europe, becoming friends and guests of numerous members of European royalty including Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, and his brother, Prince Henry of Prussia, King Albert I of Belgium, Crown Prince Olav of Norway, Queen Marie of Romania, Reza Pahlavi of Iran, and every British monarch since Queen Victoria. Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany (27 January 1859–4 June 1941), also known as William II, was the last German Emperor (Kaiser) and the last King (König) of Prussia, ruling from 1888 to 1918. ... This page refers to Prince Henry of Prussia (1726-1802); for Prince Henry of Prussia (1862-1929), see Prince Heinrich of Prussia. ... King Albert I Albert I (April 8, 1875 – February 17, 1934) was the third King of the Belgians. ... His Majesty King Olav V (July 2, 1903 - January 17, 1991) reigned as King of Norway from 1957 to 1991. ... King Ferdinand and Queen Marie of Romania, photographed in Belgrade in 1926 at the christening of her grandson Prince Peter of Yugoslavia. ... Shah Reza Pahlavi Reza Pahlavi (Persian: رضا پهلوی), (March 16, 1877–July 26, 1944), called Reza Shah the Great after his death, was Shah of Persia (later Iran) from December 15, 1925 to September 16, 1941. ... Victoria Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) (24 May 1819–22 January 1901) was a Queen of the United Kingdom, reigning from 20 June 1837 until her death. ...

As with other members of the Vanderbilt family, yachting was one of Neily Vanderbilt's favorite pastimes as an escape from a busy life that included a seat on the Board of Directors of a number of major American corporations. In 1910, he piloted his yacht to victory in the New York Yacht Club's race for the "King Edward VII Cup."

In 1940, he sold his Fifth Avenue mansion in New York City to members of the Astor family but remained living there until his passing from a cerebral hemorrhage while vacationing in Miami Beach, Florida aboard his yacht in 1942. His wife Grace Vanderbilt lived another eleven years, passing away on January 7, 1953. They are buried together in the Vanderbilt family mausoleum in the Moravian Cemetery in New Dorp on Staten Island, New York. The Astor family, founded by the German immigrant John Jacob Astor and his wife Sarah Todd, became the wealthiest family in the United States during the 19th century. ... Miami Beach is a city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. ... January 7 is the 7th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1953 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... The approximate area of the neighborhood of New Dorp on Staten Island is shown highlighted in orange. ... For other uses, see Staten Island (disambiguation) Staten Island, shown in an enhanced satellite image Staten Island is one of the five boroughs of New York City, located on an island of the same name on the west side of the Narrows at the entrance of New York Harbor. ...