The Men Who Built America – Cornelius Vanderbilt

The History Channel is premiering an eight-hour event series called The Men Who Built America on Tuesday, October 16 at 9 p.m. and will chronicle the lives of Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jon D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan and Henry Ford.

CEO Blog Nation and Hearpreneur will spotlight the lives of each of these entrepreneurs prior to the premiere.

Related Post: The Men Who Built America Premieres October 16th 

Cornelius Vanderbilt was born on May 27, 1794 in Port Richmond, New York. He entered the transportation business at the age of 16 when he established a passenger ferry business in New York harbor between Staten Island and Manhattan with one boat. Then he started his own steamship company in 1818 which eventually controlled the Hudson River traffic and his first steamship in 1829. He provided the first rail service between New York and Chicago. Upon expanding his operations, Vanderbilt became extremely competitive reducing his rates while also improving his ships. By the time of his death, in 1877, Vanderbilt had amassed over $100 million which was the largest fortune accumulated in the United States at that time.

His legacy lives on today as one of the pioneers of the economy. A ruthless business man, the public regarded Vanderbilt as vulgar and mean-spirited. He lived in a modest home and gave to charitable causes including funding Vanderbilt University.

Quotes from Vanderbilt

If I had learned education, I would not have had time to learn anything else.

I have been insane on the subject of money making all my life.

What do I care about law? Ain't I got the power.

You have undertaken to cheat me. I won't sue you, for the law is too slow. I'll ruin you.

I don't care half so much about making money as I do about making my point, and coming out ahead.