Who originated the phrase the public be damned?
William H. Vanderbilt
Words attributed to William H. Vanderbilt, a railroad executive of the late nineteenth century. They were supposedly spoken to a newspaper reporter.
What was Cornelius Vanderbilt known for?
Shipping and railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt (1794-1877) was a self-made multi-millionaire who became one of the wealthiest Americans of the 19th century. In the 1860s, he shifted his focus to the railroad industry, where he built another empire and helped make railroad transportation more efficient.
What are some bad things Cornelius Vanderbilt did?
Cornelius Vanderbilt
- He crushed competitors.
- Ruthless in his relationships.
- Rigged markets.
- Corrupted governments.
- He was considered a monopolist.
What does public be damned mean?
This era took its name from the infamous remark allegedly made by William Henry Vanderbilt, son of the wealthy shipping and railroad businessman “Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt: “The public be damned.” Although this was reported by a Chicago freelance writer in 1882, the young Vanderbilt denied having made the remark …
How was William Vanderbilt a robber baron?
The life of Cornelius Vanderbilt was filled with cut throat competition. A man of extraordinary energy, he build two business empires. Vanderbilt became recognized as a ruthless tycoon, earning the title of robber baron. However, in 1877, he passed away and left his wealth to his eldest son, William Vanderbilt.
Why is Vanderbilt bad?
The worst thing about Vanderbilt is the social dynamic. Vanderbilt’s socially conservative and immature environment really hold it back from rising in the rankings and becomeing an even more outstanding liberal arts college. Laura. The large introductory classes becasue it is easy to get lost in the crowd.
Did Vanderbilt mistreat his workers?
Cornelius Vanderbilt apparently treated his employees badly, offering them very low wages and poor working conditions. Vanderbilt was perceived by his contemporaries as a ruthless character who spent too little time worrying about people’s perception about him.
Why John D Rockefeller was a robber baron?
In order to achieve that, he reduced his cost. Once he reduced it, he was able to drive other companies out of business. So, as his company expanded, it made it easier for him to drive out all of his competitors out of the race. Rockefeller created a monopoly, making him a robber baron.
When did Cornelius Vanderbilt start his steamboat line?
In 1829, after a decade working for Gibbons, Vanderbilt decided to start his own steamboat line. With the immense sum he had saved—around $30,000 by then—Vanderbilt began a service that ran between New York City and Peekskill, New York, a Westchester County town on the Hudson River.
What did Cornelius Vanderbilt do with his money?
Vanderbilt’s astonishing fortune ranked him as the richest American in his lifetime, and his wealth had seemed to grow right along with the rapidly expanding new nation. Known as the “Commodore,” he made his first fortune in shipping and went on to own a large section of the railroad tracks that connected the East Coast to Chicago, Illinois.
Where did Cornelius Vanderbilt get his name from?
Aertson had been born in a village called De Bilt in the Netherlands, and the van (“from”) added to it gave the family its surname. Vanderbilt was the fourth of nine children in his family. His father had a boat business, and as a youngster Vanderbilt grew to love the sea and sailing.