If you look at Cornelius Vanderbilt from a morale standpoint he might be the most despicable character in Americans history. Anyone that has studied American history knows that that is an extremely deprecating statement. Yet, if you look at him from a business perspective he might be one of the most successful persons in American history ending this career with 105 million dollars and his son William practically doubling that wealth to end up with upwards of 200 million dollars which is the equivalent to 218 billion dollars in 2005. In the book Commodore: The Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt, Edward Renehan tells the life story of Cornelius Vanderbilt. He talks about his ancestors before Cornelius was born and ends the book with his son William
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After his “break up” with Gibbons, he was forced to move his family. His decision to move them to a tiny town house instead of a spacious new house was because of the measly 200$ a year in difference. Forever finding the bottom line, the Commodore undercut many other “lines” in the steam business and eventually earnd an annual salary not to run his sailboats.
Because of the effect they had on the passenger steamboat industry Cornelius decided to involve himself in the railways. Although it also had a major competitor and personal enemy, George Law, Cornelius decided to join the board for the Long Island Railroad. The Commodore, seeing the threat that Railroads posed to his business began to invest in multiple railroads. It would take Cornelius to be the important player in railroads we think of him as today.
Other than making money, the Commodore was very interested in other pleasures. When talking about his marital troubles Renehan says: “… he seemed to have made very little effort to mask the fact that, when away, he enjoyed the company of other women-most often professional waterfront wenches.” He also “began to seriously peruse the hobby that would become one of his main passions of his idle hours going forward: harness racing with trotting horses.” Even when he began to have free time Cornelius was more interested in entreating himself than contributing to the social health of his
After his “break up” with Gibbons, he was forced to move his family. His decision to move them to a tiny town house instead of a spacious new house was because of the measly 200$ a year in difference. Forever finding the bottom line, the Commodore undercut many other “lines” in the steam business and eventually earnd an annual salary not to run his sailboats.
Because of the effect they had on the passenger steamboat industry Cornelius decided to involve himself in the railways. Although it also had a major competitor and personal enemy, George Law, Cornelius decided to join the board for the Long Island Railroad. The Commodore, seeing the threat that Railroads posed to his business began to invest in multiple railroads. It would take Cornelius to be the important player in railroads we think of him as today.
Other than making money, the Commodore was very interested in other pleasures. When talking about his marital troubles Renehan says: “… he seemed to have made very little effort to mask the fact that, when away, he enjoyed the company of other women-most often professional waterfront wenches.” He also “began to seriously peruse the hobby that would become one of his main passions of his idle hours going forward: harness racing with trotting horses.” Even when he began to have free time Cornelius was more interested in entreating himself than contributing to the social health of his