He was the grandson of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794–1877). Upon his grandfather's death in 1877, 95% of the $100 million estate was left to his father and his three brothers ($5 million to Cornelius, and $2 million apiece to William, Frederick, and George).[3]

In 1876, Vanderbilt graduated from Yale University's Sheffield Scientific School, to which he donated $500,000 in 1902.[4]

Career

After graduating from Yale, he joined his father at the New York Central Railroad, like his brothers, working in one department after another to gain an understanding of the railroad business. After working for many years at the railroad, he devoted his time to travel and yachting.[5]

Vanderbilt was a director of 22 railroads, including New York Central Railroad, the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad, and the Chicago and North Western Railroad.[5]

Legacy

Vanderbilt maintained residences in New York City (he lived for a while at 450 Fifth Avenue), Newport ("Rough Point"), Bar Harbor ("Sonogee"), Upper St. Regis Lake in the Adirondacks ("Pine Tree Point"), and a country palace in Hyde Park, New York ("Hyde Park") now preserved by the National Park Service as Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site. He built the nearby Howard Mansion and Carriage House for his nephew Thomas H. Howard in 1896.[6]

Vanderbilt was the owner of 10 East 40th Street in Manhattan, a prominent example of art deco architecture, until his death; he also owned the steam yachts Vedette,[7] Conqueror[8][9] and Warrior.[10] He commissioned a number of campus buildings at Yale University by architect Charles C. Haight that survive to this day, from campus dormitories comprising the present-day Silliman College, to Vanderbilt Hall,[11] Phelps Hall,[12] the Mason, Sloane and Osborn laboratories,[13] and his secret society, St. Anthony Hall.[14]

Personal life

In 1878, Frederick married Louise Holmes Anthony (1854–1926), the daughter of Charles Lee Anthony (1820–1874) and Catherine Holmes (1824–1882). Louise's father was a successful dry-goods merchant in New York City. Louise was first married, for a short time, to Frederick's cousin Alfred Torrance (1852–1887). She divorced Torrance in 1877.

Frederick Vanderbilt died in Hyde Park, New York on June 29, 1938.[1] He was buried at Moravian Cemetery in New Dorp.[15] His estate was valued at $79,845,478 upon his death.[16] He left $5,200,000 to the Sheffield Scientific School,[17] $3,900,000 to Vanderbilt University, $1,300,000 to the Salvation Army, and $650,000 to the New York Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor.[16] After his charitable donations, his niece, Mrs. Margaret Louise Van Alen (1876–1969),[18] was the chief heir of his estate, receiving his 5th Avenue home, Hyde Park home, and 25% of the residue of the estate.