Vanderbilt

Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877), known as the Commodore, was an influential American businessman in the maritime and railroad transport sectors, and the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family. From a young age, he made his mark by organizing transportation services between Staten Island and Manhattan. Challenging monopolies, he ventured into steamboats and later into railroads. In 1851, he founded the Accessory Transit Company, shortening distances through Nicaragua. His legacy expanded to railways, and in 1871, he built the Grand Central Depot. He faced losses in 1873, but upon his death, he left a fortune of over 100 million dollars, bequeathing the majority to his son William and donating one million to the university that bears his name.