William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil (August 17, 1928 – October 31, 2017) was the operator of the
Biltmore Estate through his company,
The Biltmore Company.
Biography
Early life
William Cecil was the younger son of
Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt
Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt Cecil Bulkely-Johnson Goodsir (August 22, 1900 – February 7, 1976) was an American born heiress and member of the Vanderbilt family who inherited the Biltmore Estate. She was known for her eccentric behavior.
Ear ...
(1900–1976). He was the grandson of
George Washington Vanderbilt II
George Washington Vanderbilt II (November 14, 1862 – March 6, 1914) was an art collector and member of the prominent Vanderbilt family, which amassed a huge fortune through steamboats, railroads, and various business enterprises. He commission ...
, and the great-grandson of
William Henry Vanderbilt
William Henry Vanderbilt (May 8, 1821 – December 8, 1885) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He was the eldest son of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, an heir to his fortune and a prominent member of the Vanderbilt family. Vanderbi ...
. His great-great grandfather was railroad and steamship baron, Commodore
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt (May 27, 1794 – January 4, 1877), nicknamed "the Commodore", was an American business magnate who built his wealth in railroads and shipping. After working with his father's business, Vanderbilt worked his way into lead ...
.
Career
Cecil was a graduate of
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
. Upon the death of his mother, he inherited the Biltmore Estate once his elder brother,
George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil, chose to take charge of the family dairy (known as
Biltmore Farms) which was much more profitable at the time. He successfully transformed Biltmore into a popular
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...
tourist attraction and built a profitable winery on the grounds.
Personal life
Cecil's widow, Mary Lee Ryan, was a first cousin of
First Lady of the United States Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, as their mothers,
Janet Norton Lee and Marion Merritt Lee, were sisters.
Cecil's son, Bill Cecil Jr., serves as President and
CEO of The Biltmore Company today. His daughter-in-law, Virginia Cecil, oversees the equestrian center at the estate and is on the Biltmore board of directors.
Death
Cecil died at home in his native
Asheville, North Carolina, on October 31, 2017, aged 89. His death occurred 2 weeks before his wife. He is survived by his two children: William A. V. Cecil Jr. and Diana (née Cecil) Pickering.
William A.V. Cecil, Vanderbilt's grandson and Biltmore owner, dead at 89
citizen-times.com; accessed October 31, 2017.
Ancestry
References
External links
About Us
biltmore.com; accessed October 31, 2017.
20th-century American businesspeople
1928 births
2017 deaths
American people of Dutch descent
American people of English descent
William Amherst
William Amherst
Harvard University alumni
People from Asheville, North Carolina
William Amherst
William Amherst
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