CORNELIUS VANDERBILT
1794–1877
A 19th-century shipping and railroad magnate, Cornelius Vanderbilt was a ruthless, shrewd, and competitive businessman. Able to offer reliable services and cheap fares without compromising on comfort, he undercut his rivals and broke down steamship monopolies. He embraced new transportation technologies, later moving from water to rail.
Cornelius Vanderbilt was born on May 27, 1794, in Staten Island, New York. His parents were poor and his father worked as a ferryman. From him, Vanderbilt learned a plain-spoken, blunt approach to dealing with people, while his mother taught ...
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