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How Is Cornelius Vanderbilt A Captain Of Industry

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Cornelius Vanderbilt was well known for his intelligence in the business industry. Vanderbilt originally made his money off of steamships, but eventually changed his path to the railroad industry. Many people perceived Vanderbilt as a Captain of Industry; however, others perceived him as a Robber Baron. Nevertheless, Vanderbilt was one of the most well known business leaders of his time, which is still talked about today. In May of 1794 Cornelius Vanderbilt was born to Cornelius Vanderbilt and Phebe Hand Vanderbilt on Staten Island, New York. Vanderbilt worked with his father on a ferry ship from a young age (Biography). When Cornelius Vanderbilt was 11, he quit school and continued to work on the ferry with his father (Biography). When Vanderbilt …show more content…

Subsequently, by the time the war was coming to an end, Vanderbilt was able to purchase a small quantity of a fleet of boats (Sandoval). Vanderbilt was able to create a new life for himself and acquired so many new and state of the art business opportunities for himself and others. Vanderbilt continued this life until his interest shifted more to the railroad industry, where his railroad business thrived tremendously and he became a multi-millionaire by his death in 1877. Although Vanderbilt was a great businessman and leader of the 19th century, he may have been perceived differently by others. It is believed to have been said that many of his workers viewed him as a robber baron for the reason that he paid them low wages and they were to work long strenuous hours. Nevertheless, many businessmen also saw Vanderbilt as a Robber Baron due to the hostile things he would do like running small railroad companies out of business and wanting to take control of them all for himself. In my opinion, I feel that Cornelius Vanderbilt was a Captain of Industry for the reason that he did a lot of good in this world by paving the way for future generations of

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In 1865, Cornelius Vanderbilt received a loan of one hundred dollars. With this money, he built a ferry boat, and continued to build more. Vanderbilt was an extremely tough man. He often beat other men, fighting for whatever he wanted. People say his toughness created the business character that he later turned into.

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Cornelius Vanderbilt: Captain of Industry When America began its journey into industry, the country immediately flourished. Inundated with immigrants, factories were easily staffed; jobs were given out to any individual who wanted one. However, some of these large industrial companies flourished more than others. Cornelius Vanderbilt, for example, became one of the richest men in the country. Many Americans believe that business owners like Vanderbilt should be given the name “Robber Barons” because of their great accomplishments; however, in contrast, others like to deem them as America’s “Captains of Industry”.

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In the final years of his life, Vanderbilt improved and expanded his railroads, and died the richest man in America. When he died, he gave $100 million estate to his eldest son, William Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt was known to be loud, hard headed, and somewhat crude. He rarely gave away his money.

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He initially owned a steamship company before focusing on the railroad industry. At the height of his success, he controlled 40% of all the nation's railroads.

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He got married and also had thirteen children with her. He then started moving people and goods across the Hudson Bay. From there on he created the largest shipping company empire and after the Civil War he was the richest man in the world. There was a tragedy when his eldest son died in the Civil War

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Some historians have characterized the industrial and business leaders of the 1865—1900 period as "robber barons," who used extreme methods to control and concentrate wealth and power. This is shown very prevalent in this historical information through economic relations with power as well as striving for both political and social control. Robber Barons were extremists who used tactics to become the apex of the wealth pyramid. For example, William Vanderbilt, father of Cornelius Vanderbilt, used strategies to become the number 1. Monopolizing huge industries through the formation of trusts, running competitors out of business, paying low wages, these were just some methods that Robber Barons would use.

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He used his boat to ferry passengers and goods between Staten Island and Manhattan… Selling his ferry business, Vanderbilt went to work for Thomas Gibbons in 1817, running a steam ship line between New York and New Jersey. Over 12 years, Vanderbilt became an expert in the operation and design of steam ships. He 1829, he resigned to launch his own business… He sold his interest in steamers and turned to Wall Street, the financial heart of the nation in New York. In a short period of time, he quietly bought up a number of railroads to form the New York Central and Hudson River line, one of the largest businesses America had ever seen.

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“After working as a steamship captain, Vanderbilt went into business for himself in the late 1820s, and eventually became one of the country’s largest steamship operators” (“Cornelius”). This explains how Vanderbilt went from a common kid to a big business man. After his success on water he learned about westward expansion and decided to give railroads a try. “Vanderbilt did not own grand homes or give away much of his vast wealth to charitable causes”. This shows how he wished other people would follow his American dream and become

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