Early life Edit
He was the younger son of John Francis Amherst Cecil (1890–1954) and Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt (1900–1976). He was the grandson of George Washington Vanderbilt II and great-grandson of William Henry Vanderbilt and a second cousin of Gloria Vanderbilt.
On his father's side, he is a direct descendant of William Cecil, the chief adviser to Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century, through his grandparents, Lord William Cecil and Mary Rothes Margaret Cecil, Baroness Amherst of Hackney.
Career Edit
Upon the death of his mother, he inherited the Biltmore Estate once his elder brother, George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil, chose to take charge of the family dairy (known as Biltmore Farms) which was much more profitable at the time. He successfully transformed Biltmore into a popular North Carolina tourist attraction and built a profitable winery on the grounds. He graduated from Harvard University.
Personal life Edit
His wife Mary Lee Ryan is a first cousin of former First Lady Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, as their mothers, Janet Norton Lee and Marion Merritt Lee, were sisters.[1]
His son, Bill Jr., is president and CEO of the company today and his daughter-in-law, Virginia Cecil, oversees the equestrian center at the estate, and is also on the Biltmore board of directors.[2]
Death Edit
Cecil died at home in his native Asheville on October 31, 2017, aged 89. He is survived by his wife and their two children: William A.V. Cecil Jr. and Diana (née Cecil) Pickering.[3]
He was the younger son of John Francis Amherst Cecil (1890–1954) and Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt (1900–1976). He was the grandson of George Washington Vanderbilt II and great-grandson of William Henry Vanderbilt and a second cousin of Gloria Vanderbilt.
On his father's side, he is a direct descendant of William Cecil, the chief adviser to Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century, through his grandparents, Lord William Cecil and Mary Rothes Margaret Cecil, Baroness Amherst of Hackney.
Career Edit
Upon the death of his mother, he inherited the Biltmore Estate once his elder brother, George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil, chose to take charge of the family dairy (known as Biltmore Farms) which was much more profitable at the time. He successfully transformed Biltmore into a popular North Carolina tourist attraction and built a profitable winery on the grounds. He graduated from Harvard University.
Personal life Edit
His wife Mary Lee Ryan is a first cousin of former First Lady Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, as their mothers, Janet Norton Lee and Marion Merritt Lee, were sisters.[1]
His son, Bill Jr., is president and CEO of the company today and his daughter-in-law, Virginia Cecil, oversees the equestrian center at the estate, and is also on the Biltmore board of directors.[2]
Death Edit
Cecil died at home in his native Asheville on October 31, 2017, aged 89. He is survived by his wife and their two children: William A.V. Cecil Jr. and Diana (née Cecil) Pickering.[3]
Early life Edit
He was the younger son of John Francis Amherst Cecil (1890–1954) and Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt (1900–1976). He was the grandson of George Washington Vanderbilt II and great-grandson of William Henry Vanderbilt and a second cousin of Gloria Vanderbilt.
On his father's side, he is a direct descendant of William Cecil, the chief adviser to Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century, through his grandparents, Lord William Cecil and Mary Rothes Margaret Cecil, Baroness Amherst of Hackney.
Career Edit
Upon the death of his mother, he inherited the Biltmore Estate once his elder brother, George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil, chose to take charge of the family dairy (known as Biltmore Farms) which was much more profitable at the time. He successfully transformed Biltmore into a popular North Carolina tourist attraction and built a profitable winery on the grounds. He graduated from Harvard University.
Personal life Edit
His wife Mary Lee Ryan is a first cousin of former First Lady Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, as their mothers, Janet Norton Lee and Marion Merritt Lee, were sisters.[1]
His son, Bill Jr., is president and CEO of the company today and his daughter-in-law, Virginia Cecil, oversees the equestrian center at the estate, and is also on the Biltmore board of directors.[2]
Death Edit
Cecil died at home in his native Asheville on October 31, 2017, aged 89. He is survived by his wife and their two children: William A.V. Cecil Jr. and Diana (née Cecil) Pickering.[3]
He was the younger son of John Francis Amherst Cecil (1890–1954) and Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt (1900–1976). He was the grandson of George Washington Vanderbilt II and great-grandson of William Henry Vanderbilt and a second cousin of Gloria Vanderbilt.
On his father's side, he is a direct descendant of William Cecil, the chief adviser to Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century, through his grandparents, Lord William Cecil and Mary Rothes Margaret Cecil, Baroness Amherst of Hackney.
Career Edit
Upon the death of his mother, he inherited the Biltmore Estate once his elder brother, George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil, chose to take charge of the family dairy (known as Biltmore Farms) which was much more profitable at the time. He successfully transformed Biltmore into a popular North Carolina tourist attraction and built a profitable winery on the grounds. He graduated from Harvard University.
Personal life Edit
His wife Mary Lee Ryan is a first cousin of former First Lady Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, as their mothers, Janet Norton Lee and Marion Merritt Lee, were sisters.[1]
His son, Bill Jr., is president and CEO of the company today and his daughter-in-law, Virginia Cecil, oversees the equestrian center at the estate, and is also on the Biltmore board of directors.[2]
Death Edit
Cecil died at home in his native Asheville on October 31, 2017, aged 89. He is survived by his wife and their two children: William A.V. Cecil Jr. and Diana (née Cecil) Pickering.[3]
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
