Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney
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C. V. Whitney
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| U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce | |
| In office 1949–1950 |
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| President | Harry S. Truman |
| Preceded by | Charles W. Sawyer |
| Succeeded by | W. Walter Williams |
| U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Air Force | |
| In office 1947–1949 |
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| President | Harry S. Truman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 20, 1899 Roslyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 13, 1992 (aged 93) Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S. |
| Spouses |
Marie Norton
(m. 1923; div. 1929)Gwladys Crosby Hopkins
(m. 1931; div. 1940)Eleanor Searle
(m. 1941; div. 1957)Marie Louise Schroeder
(m. 1958) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parents | Harry Payne Whitney Gertrude Vanderbilt |
| Relatives | See Vanderbilt family and Whitney family |
| Residences | Old Westbury, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
| Occupation | Businessman Film producer Racehorse owner/breeder Philanthropist |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army United States Air Force |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant (Army) Colonel (Air Force) |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit |
Cornelius Vanderbilt "Sonny" Whitney (born February 20, 1899 – died December 13, 1992) was an amazing American who did many things. He was a successful businessman, a movie producer, and even worked for the government. He also loved writing and giving back to his community.
Whitney was a talented polo player and owned many famous Thoroughbred racehorses. He came from two very wealthy and well-known families, the Whitneys and the Vanderbilts.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney was born in Old Westbury, New York. He was the only son of Harry Payne Whitney and Gertrude Vanderbilt. His mother, Gertrude, was a famous sculptor.
He had two sisters: Flora Payne Whitney and Barbara Whitney. Growing up in such a prominent family, he inherited a large fortune. But he also proved to be a very smart businessman on his own.
A Busy Career
After finishing his studies at Yale University in 1922, Whitney started working. He first worked at a mine in Nevada that his father owned.
Business Ventures
In 1926, Whitney became a director at the Guaranty Trust Company of New York, a big bank. He stayed on their board until 1940.
He also helped start Pan American World Airways in 1927. This company became a major airline, connecting the world through air travel.
In 1931, Whitney founded the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co., Limited in Canada. This company became a huge zinc mining operation. He was the chairman of its board until 1964.
Love for Horses: Polo and Racing
Whitney's father loved polo and thoroughbred horse racing, and Sonny followed in his footsteps. He won the U.S. Open polo title three times! To this day, a special polo tournament in Greenwich, Connecticut, awards the C.V. Whitney Cup.
He was the third generation in his family to be deeply involved in horse racing. The famous Whitney Handicap race at Saratoga Race Course is named in his family's honor.
Whitney took over his father's horse stable in 1930. His horse, Equipoise, was one of his first big winners. Equipoise became a racing star and later a successful father to other racehorses. He was even put into racing's Hall of Fame. Another amazing horse, Top Flight, also made it into the Hall of Fame.
Even though he had 15 horses race in the Kentucky Derby, Whitney never won that famous race. However, his horse Phalanx won the Belmont Stakes in 1947. In 1951, his horse Counterpoint also won the Belmont Stakes and was named "Horse of the Year."
In 1972, the Keeneland Association honored Whitney for his great contributions to horse racing.
Making Movies
Whitney also got involved in the movie business. He helped fund the Technicolor Corporation, which brought color to movies. He was also a financial supporter of the classic 1939 film, Gone with the Wind.
Later, Whitney started his own movie company, "C.V. Whitney Pictures." His company made three films:
- The Searchers (1956), a famous Western movie directed by John Ford.
- The Missouri Traveler (1958).
- The Young Land (1959).
He also helped create Marine Studios in Florida in 1938. This was designed as an underwater movie studio. It later became a popular marine attraction, known as "the world's original marine attraction."
Serving His Country
Whitney served in the military during both World War I and World War II.
In World War I, at just 18 years old, he joined the United States Army. He became a military pilot and served as a flight instructor.
When World War II began, Whitney volunteered again. He rose to the rank of colonel in the United States Army Air Forces. He received important awards for his service, including the Distinguished Service Medal.
After the war, he worked for U.S. President Harry S. Truman. He was the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force from 1947 to 1949. Then, he was the United States Under Secretary of Commerce from 1949 to 1950. He also served as President Truman's special envoy to several European countries.
Estates and Legacy
One of Whitney's homes was the "Cady Hill" estate in Saratoga Springs, New York. This was close to the Saratoga Race Course. In 1950, he founded the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame there and was its first president. He received a special award in 1984 for his lifelong contributions to horse racing.
His C. V. Whitney Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, raised over 175 stakes winners. After his death in 1992, his wife, Marylou Whitney, continued the horse breeding and racing.
Whitney also owned a huge property of over 51,000 acres in the Adirondack Mountains. This land included more than 40 lakes and ponds. In 1997, New York State bought a large part of this land to protect it.
Personal Life
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney was married four times. His first marriage was to Marie Norton in 1923. They had two children:
- Harry Payne Whitney II
- Nancy Marie Whitney
His second marriage was to Gwladys Crosby "Gee" Hopkins. They had one daughter:
- Gail Whitney
In 1941, he married Eleanor Searle. They had one son:
- Cornelius Searle Whitney
His fourth and final marriage was to Marie Louise Schroeder in 1958. She was an actress in one of the movies he produced. They stayed married until his death. They had one daughter:
- Cornelia Whitney
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney passed away in 1992 in Saratoga Springs, New York, at 93 years old. He is buried there in the Greenridge Cemetery. A part of a highway in Saratoga Springs is named "C.V. Whitney Memorial Highway" in his honor.
Giving Back: Philanthropy and Arts
Whitney grew up surrounded by art. His mother, Gertrude, was a talented sculptor and founded the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.
As an adult, Whitney helped create the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. He also supported the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. He founded the Whitney Gallery of Western Art in Cody, Wyoming. The "Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Hall of Fame" collection is part of the National Museum of Dance in Saratoga Springs.
Whitney gave important artworks to museums. For example, he donated a 1634 painting by Anthony van Dyck to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. He also gave an 1872 painting by Thomas Eakins to the same museum.
His interest in marine animals led him to found the world's first oceanarium, Marineland, in 1938. He later helped the University of Florida build a research center for marine biology, now called The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience.
In 1963, part of his estate in Old Westbury, New York, was given to the New York Institute of Technology for their campus.
Books by C.V. Whitney
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney also enjoyed writing. He wrote five books:
- Lone and Level Sands (1951) – about Allied air operations during World War II.
- High Peaks (1977) – his autobiography.
- Live a Year with a Millionaire (1981).
- Owl Hoots Again (1988) – a collection of short stories for children.
- First Flight: The Diary of a Cadet in the Signal Corps in World War I (1989).
