Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-07-29
w. X. VANDERBILT
DIES IN PARIS
Son of william H-FAther Of the
Duchess OF Marlborough
Paris. July 22.-William x. Vanderbilt
the American financier died here to-day.


William Nissan Vanderbilt. son of Will
liam H.. and grandson Of Commodore
Vanderbilt. one of the most prominent
railroad executives, financiers and sports
men in the United States passed much of
his time In recent years abroad. The Duke
Of Marlborough married his only daugh-
ter. Consuelo. in 1895.
Mr.. Vanderbilt was long a patron of the
French turf, Of yachting and of auto
mobile racing in the United States He
was the donor of the Vanderbilt Cup" for
which motor speed kings contested a
decade or more ago on Long Island. He
owned a racing stable at Poissy. France,
which he augmented greatly in 1912 by
purchasing a number of horses from
James r. Keene. Notable among his
string of Derby and Grand Prix winners
were. "Maintenon," His Prestige"
Northeast" "Negofol," and "Gibeln."
Besides having built the Alva. which was
sunk. and the Valiant. steam yachts, he
was member of several syndicates Or
ganized to build defenders of the
Americas cup.
active in hospital work and relief abroad
and in promoting the work of the
Lafayette Escadrille. On one occasion he
contributed $4,000 to the Neuilly hospital
fund and at another time gave 100000 lire
toward war relief in Italy. Because Of his
work for the American aviators in France
he was made honorary president of the
Lafayette Escadrille and presented with
the rosette of the Legion of Honor. Dur
Ing the summer Of 1919 Mr.. Vanderbilt
was reported to have presented to his
daughter, the Duchess Of Marlborough, a
gift Of s15,ooocoo.
Mr.. Vanderbilt was born on Staten
Island. n. Y. December IL. lS49. After re-
ceiving an academical education in
America he studied for several years in
Geneva. Switzerland. He married Miss
Alva Smith, of Mobile. Ala. NOV Mrs
o. H. P. BelmonD in 1874 and to them
were born. beside Consuelo. two other
children. William x, Jr., and Harold
Vanderbilt On April %, 1903. Mr.. Wander
hit married Mrs. A. H. Rutherford in
London, England.
Upon completing his studies in Switzer-
land, he entered the office Of c. c. Clarke,
treasurer OF the Hudson River railroad,
first as a bookkeeper and was gradually
placed in positions of trust and re-
sponslbility In connection with the great
Vanderbilt railroad system. From 1877 to
1888 he was second vice president of the
New York Central & Hudson River rail-
road. He was also chairman of the board
of directors OF the Lake Shore & Michigan
Southern railway for many years. as well
as director OF the New York Central;
Michigan Central; Lake Erie & Western
Chicago & Northwestern; Chicago. Mil
waukee & st. Paul; Chicago, Cleveland,
Cincinnati & st. Louis New York &
Halcm; Pittsburs & Lake Erie and West
Shore railroads. He was also a director
of the Metropolitan Opera company and
united with his brothers, Cornelius, George
and Frederick. in establishing the Van
derbilt clinic in New York at a cost of
more than $4,000. His sons. William X.
Jr., and Harold Vanderbilt. are directors
in more than l5o railroad and other cor
porations.