cvanderbilt




 * __Cornelius Vanderbilt__**

Cornelius Vanderbilt was born at Port Richmond, Staten Island, New York, the son of a ferryman and farmer. He had little formal education. At the young age of 16, he was transporting people and cargo around New York harbor. During the War of 1812, he got a government contract to deliver supplies to posts throughout the area. Eventually he controlled the traffic in New York waters. In 1818, he sold his boats and went to work a steamship line. He stayed with this line until 1829 when he started his own line. During the 1930s his line became the dominate line. Eventually all the companys came together and bought him out. During the Gold Rush of 1849, he created a cheap, reliable way for prospectors to reach the gold fields of California. In 1851, he arranged ship accommodations from New Orleans to Central America, overland travel across the isthmus, and another ship for the voyage up the Pacific to San Francisco. Vanderbilt expanded into the railroad business in 1857. He then gained control of the New York and Harlem railroad. His rival, Daniel Drew, foiled his plans to gain control of the Erie Railroad in the Erie War. During the depression, Vanderbilt started building the Grand Central Station in New York City, resulting in giving thousands of previously unemployed people jobs. Grand Central was one of the main railroads that posted profits during the depression.