Vanderbilt family, one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in the United States. The third generation of Vanderbilts—following Cornelius and William Henry Vanderbilt—was led by three of William Henry’s four sons: Cornelius (1843–99), William Kissam (1849–1920), and George Washington (1862–1914). Of the three, Cornelius was by far the most devoted to furthering the family’s business and investment interests. Following his father’s death in 1885, Cornelius took charge of the various railroads and other corporations and of the philanthropic activities. He served on numerous social and civic boards, and he oversaw the granting of enormous sums to Yale University, Columbia ...(100 of 353 words)