Why was cornelius vanderbilt important?

Answer 1

Cornelius Vanderbilt was one of the richest Americans in history and built two transportation empires in shipping and railroads. He donated a warship, the Vanderbilt, to Abraham Lincoln and helped bring success for the Union navy. He gave the initial donation to start Vanderbilt University and built NYC's famous Grand Central Terminal.

Answer 2

Cornelius Vanderbilt was responsible for developing much of the transportation system in the middle and later part of the 19th century in the North East part of the United States. He was responsible for both boats and trains. He also built Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Answer 3

Cornelius Vanderbuilt was one of the rich Americans in history. He made his wealth in shipping and railroads.

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He was famous as a self-made man, because he was one of the richest people of his time, and because he gave $1,000,000, a huge sum in those days, to fund Vanderbilt University. He made other donations as well. As a shipping tycoon, he owned a number of ships, and he offered to donate the largest of them to the Union Navy, though the gift was turned down because of the expense of operating it. Later he had it altered and donated it to keep Confederate ironclads bottled up. He was also involved in famous rivalries with other rich men, notably over control of such properties as the Erie Railway. When he died, in 1887, he was worth over $100,000,000, an amazing sum at the time.

There is a link below to an article on him.