William Henry Vanderbilt III
Encyclopedia
William Henry Vanderbilt III (November 24, 1901 April 14, 1981) was an American Republican
politician and a member of the prominent United States
Vanderbilt family
.
, he was the son of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt
and Ellen French. Vanderbilt's father was a great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
, who founded the family fortune in railroads and shipping. William Vanderbilt's parents divorced in 1908 and through his father's second marriage he had two half-brothers, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt II, and George Washington Vanderbilt III
. In 1915, his father perished in the sinking of the RMS Lusitania
. In 1934, his cousin on his mother's side, Ellen Tuck French, married John Jacob Astor VI
, bringing together two of America's most famous families.
Educated at St. George's School
in Middletown, Rhode Island
and the Evans School
in Mesa
, Arizona
, he attended Princeton University
but dropped out during his first year. In 1940, Vanderbilt received an LL.D. from Bates College
. At age of maturity, Vanderbilt inherited a $5 million trust fund plus the 450 acre (1.8 km²) "Oakland Farm" in Portsmouth, Rhode Island
, one of his father's estates that included a number of thoroughbred horses. He made the farm his permanent home, and in 1925 started a bus company, carrying passengers between Newport and Providence. Within a few years he expanded the business to serve points throughout New England and New York. A member of the United States Republican Party, in 1928 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Rhode Island and that year was elected to the State Senate.
Vanderbilt married Emily O'Neill Davies, granddaughter of Daniel O'Neill
, owner of the Pittsburgh Dispatch
newspaper, and daughter of Frederick Martin Davies on 1 November 1923 at Grace Church, New York. Emily was the grandniece of Frederick Townsend Martin
, a prominent writer of the 1920s. The couple gave birth to a daughter, Emily "Paddy" Vanderbilt on 12 May 1925 in New York. The couple's marriage was troubled and Emily sued for divorce in Paris in the summer of 1926, but reconciled. She again sued for divorce in Newport, Rhode Island which was granted in June, 1928.
William Henry Vanderbilt III served in the Rhode Island State Senate for six years then took time off to be with his sick wife, Anne Gordon Colby. On her recovery, he re-entered political life and successfully ran for Governor of Rhode Island, serving between 1939 and 1941. However, his refusal to dole out patronage to fellow Republicans weakened his power base and a scandal over wire-tapping by a private detective firm he had hired to investigate election fraud, cost him re-election. Shortly thereafter, when the United States entered World War II
, Vanderbilt joined the United States Navy
.
He eventually left Rhode Island
and moved to a farm in South Williamstown, Massachusetts
. He died on April 14, 1981 at the age of 79.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician and a member of the prominent United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Vanderbilt family
Vanderbilt family
The Vanderbilt family is an American family of Dutch origin prominent during the Gilded Age. It started off with the shipping and railroad empires of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthropy...
.
Biography
Born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, he was the son of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt I was an extremely wealthy sportsman and a member of the famous Vanderbilt family of philanthropists. He died on the .-Life:...
and Ellen French. Vanderbilt's father was a great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt , also known by the sobriquet Commodore, was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family and one of the richest Americans in history...
, who founded the family fortune in railroads and shipping. William Vanderbilt's parents divorced in 1908 and through his father's second marriage he had two half-brothers, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt II, and George Washington Vanderbilt III
George Washington Vanderbilt III
George Washington Vanderbilt III was a yachtsman and a scientific explorer who was a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family.-Early life:...
. In 1915, his father perished in the sinking of the RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland. The ship entered passenger service with the Cunard Line on 26 August 1907 and continued on the line's heavily-traveled passenger service between Liverpool, England and New...
. In 1934, his cousin on his mother's side, Ellen Tuck French, married John Jacob Astor VI
John Jacob Astor VI
John Jacob Astor VI , known familiarly as "Jakey", was a member of the Astor family. He was born four months after his father, John Jacob Astor IV, died in the sinking of RMS Titanic.-Early life:...
, bringing together two of America's most famous families.
Educated at St. George's School
St. George's School, Newport
St. George's School is a private, Episcopal, coeducational boarding school in Middletown, Rhode Island, USA, just east of the city of Newport. The school was founded in 1896 by the Rev. John Byron Diman, a member of a prominent Rhode Island family. It sits on a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean...
in Middletown, Rhode Island
Middletown, Rhode Island
Middletown is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 16,150 at the 2010 census. It lies to the south of Portsmouth and to the north of Newport on Aquidneck Island, hence the name "Middletown."-Geography:...
and the Evans School
Mesa Ranch School
The Evans School for Boys in Mesa, Arizona was established in 1902 by H. David Evans, a Briton with a Cambridge education who arrived in Arizona in 1899. It was designed to offer students from the eastern seaboard a western ranch lifestyle in a "dry and equable climate"...
in Mesa
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, he attended Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
but dropped out during his first year. In 1940, Vanderbilt received an LL.D. from Bates College
Bates College
Bates College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. and was most recently ranked 21st in the nation in the 2011 US News Best Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists...
. At age of maturity, Vanderbilt inherited a $5 million trust fund plus the 450 acre (1.8 km²) "Oakland Farm" in Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
Portsmouth is a town in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 17,389 at the 2010 U.S. Census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water. Most of its land area lies on Aquidneck...
, one of his father's estates that included a number of thoroughbred horses. He made the farm his permanent home, and in 1925 started a bus company, carrying passengers between Newport and Providence. Within a few years he expanded the business to serve points throughout New England and New York. A member of the United States Republican Party, in 1928 he was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Rhode Island and that year was elected to the State Senate.
Vanderbilt married Emily O'Neill Davies, granddaughter of Daniel O'Neill
Daniel O'Neill (editor)
Daniel O'Neill immigrated to the United States from Ireland in 1851, settling in Pittsburgh, PA. He became editor and owner of the Pittsburgh Dispatch newspaper along with his brother Eugene M O'Neill. O'Neill served several terms on the Pittsburgh City Council.-Early life:Daniel, born Daniel...
, owner of the Pittsburgh Dispatch
Pittsburgh Dispatch
The Pittsburgh Dispatch was a leading newspaper in Pittsburgh, PA, operating from 1846 to 1923. After being enlarged by publisher Daniel O'Neill it was reportedly one of the largest and most prosperous newspapers in the United States...
newspaper, and daughter of Frederick Martin Davies on 1 November 1923 at Grace Church, New York. Emily was the grandniece of Frederick Townsend Martin
Frederick Townsend Martin
Frederick Townsend Martin was a New York City writer and advocate for the poor.-Biography:He was born in Albany, New York on December 6, 1849 to Henry Hull Martin and Anna Townsend...
, a prominent writer of the 1920s. The couple gave birth to a daughter, Emily "Paddy" Vanderbilt on 12 May 1925 in New York. The couple's marriage was troubled and Emily sued for divorce in Paris in the summer of 1926, but reconciled. She again sued for divorce in Newport, Rhode Island which was granted in June, 1928.
William Henry Vanderbilt III served in the Rhode Island State Senate for six years then took time off to be with his sick wife, Anne Gordon Colby. On her recovery, he re-entered political life and successfully ran for Governor of Rhode Island, serving between 1939 and 1941. However, his refusal to dole out patronage to fellow Republicans weakened his power base and a scandal over wire-tapping by a private detective firm he had hired to investigate election fraud, cost him re-election. Shortly thereafter, when the United States entered World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Vanderbilt joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
He eventually left Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and moved to a farm in South Williamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown is a town in Berkshire County, in the northwest corner of Massachusetts. It shares a border with Vermont to the north and New York to the west. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,754 at the 2010 census...
. He died on April 14, 1981 at the age of 79.