Heir to the Vanderbilt Fortune. He was an American financier, businessman, socialite, and since the grandson and namesake of "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, he was the head of the third generation of the Vanderbilt family. His grandfather left him $5 million. He was the eldest son of William Henry Vanderbilt and Maria Louisa Kissam Vanderbilt. Upon his father's death, he inherited about $70 million. Cornelius II assumed leadership as president and Chairman of the Board of the New York Central and 49 related railway systems in 1885. He withdrew from active management in July of 1896 after a paralytic stroke. Though retired from active control, he took an advisory role in the many properties in which he and the family, had made investments. Regarded as a capable and conservative railroad manager, he was a splendid accountant, mastering the intricacies of the banking system during his association with the Shoe and Leather Bank of New York. As a young man, his first position was a clerk at this bank before a four-year position at Kissam Brothers Bank, which followed with the railroads. Between 1885 and his untimely death from a cerebral bleed in 1899, the stock of the leading railroads, which the Vanderbilt name was then identified, had enhanced in value to the amount of $173,497,000. Kindly, charitable, and democratic, he held the respect of employees at all levels of the Vanderbilt railroad interests. Deriving no pleasure in yachting, he sought the satisfactions of philanthropy, fine music, good paintings and exquisite architecture. His religious faith led him to his philanthropy. His New York residence on Fifth Avenue was the largest private townhouse ever built in the city. His 1893 70-room country retreat, "The Breakers," at Newport, Rhode Island, was the most splendid house at that summer resort. At the time of his death, it is estimated that his real estate holdings were worth $20 million. He married Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt. Although all did not live to adulthood, the couple had seven children. Alice lived another 35 years as his widow. With his early death, the family leadership passed to his six-year younger brother, William Kissam Vanderbilt.