Career William Kissam Vanderbilt II

1 career

1.1 military service
1.2 life heir
1.3 residences

career

while great part of life filled travel , leisure activities, willie s father put him work @ family s new york central railroad offices @ grand central terminal in manhattan. such, in 1905 joined other vanderbilts on fifth avenue, building townhouse @ number 666.

already extremely wealthy trust fund , income president of new york central railroad company, on father s death in 1920, willie inherited multimillion-dollar fortune.

military service

on may 9, 1917, vanderbilt went active service in navy lieutenant (junior grade) in command of uss tarantula (sp-124) @ brooklyn navy yard. tarantula yacht owned vanderbilt has leased navy duration of war. assigned patrol duty in waters of 3rd naval district , performed convoy escorts in waters off new york , new jersey. on october 1, 1917 released active duty , given temporary leave of absence resume duties of vice-president of new york central railroad. few months later elected president of new york central railroad , acted in capacity remainder of war.

after war, vanderbilt promoted rank of lieutenant commander in naval reserve on may 17, 1921. remained in naval reserve until transferred honorary retired list on january 1, 1941 physical disability.

life heir

although developed interest in horse racing , yachting, particularly fascinated automobiles. @ age 10, during stay in south of france had ridden in steam-powered tricycle beaulieu-sur-mer 7 kilometers monte carlo , twenty-year-old, in 1898 ordered french de dion-bouton motor tricycle , had shipped new york. soon, acquired other motorized vehicles , before long began infuriate citizens , officials alike sped through towns , villages of long island, new york en route idle hour, parents summer estate @ oakdale.

a skilled sailor, participated in yacht racing, winning sir thomas lipton cup in 1900 new 70-foot (21 m) yacht had named virginia in honor of new bride. in 1902, vanderbilt began construction on own country place @ lake success on long island named deepdale. however, sailing take second place enthusiasm fast cars. in 1904, willie set new land speed record of 92.30 mph (148.54 km/h) in mercedes @ daytona beach road course @ ormond beach, florida. same year, launched vanderbilt cup, first major trophy in american auto racing. international event, designed spur american manufacturers racing, race s large cash prize drew top drivers , vehicles across atlantic ocean had competed in europe s gordon bennett cup. held @ course set out in nassau county on long island, new york, race drew large crowds hoping see american car defeat mighty european vehicles. however, french panhard vehicle won race , fans have wait until 1908 when 23-year-old george robertson of garden city, new york became first american win vanderbilt cup.

vanderbilt , powerful mercedes @ daytona (1904). courtesy florida photographic collection

the vanderbilt cup auto races repeatedly had crowd control problems , @ 1906 race spectator killed. seeing potential solve safety issue improve attendance race, willie formed corporation build long island motor parkway, 1 of country s first modern paved parkways not used race open long island easy access , economic development. construction began in 1907 of multimillion-dollar toll highway run kissena corridor in queens county on numerous bridges , overpasses lake ronkonkoma, distance of 48 miles (77 km). however, toll road never able generate sustainable profits , in 1938 formally ceded county governments in lieu of $80,000 due in taxes.

his new high-speed road complemented train service allowed rapid exit manhattan. becoming first suburban automobile commuter, in 1910 willie began work on more elaborate , costly eagle s nest estate @ centerport, long island. avid collector of natural history , marine specimens other anthropological objects, traveled extensively aboard yacht overland numerous destinations around globe. acquired vast array of artifacts collection during well-documented travels , after service united states navy during world war i, published book titled trip through sicily, tunisia, algeria, , southern france. few years later, engaged curator american museum of natural history participate him in scientific voyage galapagos islands.

residences

in 1925, traded luxury yacht eagle ownership of fisher island, florida, place used winter residence. built mansion complete docking facilities yacht, seaplane hangar, tennis courts, swimming pool, , eleven-hole golf course. home called alva base , architect maurice fatio. in addition property, , long island estate, vanderbilt owned farm in tennessee , kedgwick lodge, hunting lodge designed father architect stanford white, on restigouche river in new brunswick, canada.