Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt

Updated on Nov 07, 2023

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Name Alice Gwynne

Full Name Alice Claypoole Gwynne Born November 26, 1845 Cincinnati, Ohio Role Cornelius Vanderbilt II\'s wife Died 1934, New York City, New York, United States Spouse Cornelius Vanderbilt II (m. 1867–1899) Children Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt I Parents Abraham Evan Gwynne, Rachel Moore Flagg Grandchildren Gloria Vanderbilt, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney Similar People Cornelius Vanderbilt II, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt I, Gladys Vanderbilt Szechenyi, Cornelius Vanderbilt III, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney

Alice Claypoole Gwynne Vanderbilt (November 26, 1845 – April 22, 1934) was the wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt II and reigned as the matriarch of the Vanderbilt family for over 60 years.

A painting of Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt II sitting on the chair in the library at The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island

Biography

Olivia Peyton Murray Cutting by Alexandre Cabanel

Alice was born and raised in Cincinnati, the daughter of lawyer Abraham Evan Gwynne and Rachel Moore Flagg, and stepdaughter of Albert Mathews, who wrote under the name Paul Siogvolk.

Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt wearing the costume of "The Electric Light"
at a ball on March 26, 1883

She met Cornelius Vanderbilt II, the eldest son of William Henry Vanderbilt and Maria Louisa Kissam, while teaching Sunday school at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church. They were married on February 4, 1867 at the Church of the Incarnation on Madison Avenue in New York. She and her husband had four sons and three daughters.

Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt with her daughter Gertrude in 1895 wearing a luxurious dress and fascinator hat

Alice was responsible for constructing several massive family houses, including the enlargement of 1 West 57th Street, making it the largest private residence to ever be built in an American city at the time. She also played a role in constructing the massive summer "cottage", The Breakers, in Newport, Rhode Island. Her affection for Newport was because many of her earliest colonial ancestors were from the city. An early ancestor was Roger Williams, who founded the State of Rhode Island.Another ancestor was former Rhode Island Governor Samuel Ward, Sr.. Many Flagg family members are buried in Newport's Island Cemetery.

In 1914, she was responsible for the construction of the Gwynne Building in Cincinnati, Ohio, site of the first shop of Procter & Gamble, later the company's headquarters.

Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt sitting on the chair and dressed as the “Electric Light” with his husband Cornelius Vanderbilt

Alice Gwynne Vanderbilt died at 7 o'clock on April 22, 1934 in her home at 1 East Sixty-seventh Street in Manhattan, New York City. Gladys Moore Vanderbilt Széchenyi inherited both The Breakers in Newport, Rhode Island, and her mother's second New York townhouse located at 1 East 67th Street (the former George Jay Gould, Sr. residence). Gertrude received the proceeds from the sale of 1 West 57th Street (sold in 1925) totaling $7,000,000 while son Neily received ownership of the Gwynne Building in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Philanthropy

Portrait of Alice Claypoole Vanderbilt wearing crown, dress, and necklace

Alice donated to various charitable causes. Throughout her life she was a large supporter of the YMCA, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Trinity Church and St. Bartholomew's Church. She and her husband donated Vanderbilt Hall to Yale College in memory of their eldest son, Bill, a student there when he died in 1892. She gave the front gates to her former mansion on Fifth Avenue to be placed in Central Park. Mrs. Vanderbilt also donated a facility to Newport Hospital in 1903 in memory of her husband, Cornelius.