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Cornelius Vanderbilt (May 27, 1794 - January 4, 1877) was an American business magnate and philanthropist who built his wealth in railroads and shipping. He began his business by ferrying freight and passengers between Staten Island and Manhattan. When the California gold rush began in 1849, he switched from regional steamboat lines to ocean-going steamships. Vanderbilt took an interest in several railroads during the 1850s, serving on the boards of directors of the Erie Railway, the Central Railroad of New Jersey, the Hartford and New Haven, and the New York and Harlem. Once in charge of the Harlem, he encountered conflicts with connecting lines. In each case, the strife ended in a battle that Vanderbilt won. He died in 187 at the age of 82. The immediate cause of his death was exhaustion, brought on by long suffering from a complication of chronic disorders. At the time of his death his fortune was estimated at $100 million (estimated 2.1 billion today, 2015).
