William K(issam) Vanderbilt

Businessman and sportsman, born near New Dorp, New York, USA. The son of William H Vanderbilt, he was an executive in the family railroads (1869–1903) and helped his brother Cornelius Vanderbilt manage the family investments. In 1903 he turned over control of the New York Central system to the Rockefeller-Morgan-Pennsylvania group. An enthusiastic yachtsman, he owned and sailed Defender in international yacht races with England (1895). He actively supported the Metropolitan Opera and collected paintings.

William Kissam Vanderbilt
Born	December 12, 1849
Died	July 22, 1920 Paris, France

William Kissam Vanderbilt (December 12, 1849 – July 22, 1920) was a member of the prominent United States Vanderbilt family.

The second son of William Henry Vanderbilt, from whom he inherited $60 million, he was for a time active in the management of the family railroads, though not much after 1903. His sons William Kissam Vanderbilt II (1878-1944) and Harold Stirling Vanderbilt (1884-1970) were the last to be active in the railroads, the latter losing a proxy battle for the New York Central Railroad in the 1950s.

After the death of his brother Cornelius Vanderbilt II in 1899 he was generally regarded as head of the Vanderbilt family.

Like other members of his wealthy family, he built magnificent Vanderbilt houses.

William Kissam Vanderbilt was one of the founders of the The Jockey Club.

William Kissam Vanderbilt died in Paris, France in 1920. His remains were brought home and interred in the Vanderbilt family vault in the Moravian Cemetery at New Dorp on Staten Island, New York.