[Free Gift of Steamship Vanderbilt.]
A GRATEFUL COUNTRY TO HER GENEROUS SON * * * CORNELIUS VANDERBILT * * *. Undraped bust of Cornelius Vanderbilt, facing the right. On edge of bust, S. ELLIS. F. (fecit).
America, personified as Minerva, stands, leaning with her left hand on the American shield, and holding in her right a sword which rests on her shoulder; to the right the American eagle; to the left, the genius of the maritime cities imploring her aid and protection. In the background, in the open sea, is the steamer Vanderbilt under steam; above, a cloud with thunderbolts. Exergue: BIS DAT QUI TEMPORI DAT.[118] (He gives twice who gives in time.) 1865. ELLIS SC. (sculpsit.) LEUTZE DEL. (delineavit.)[119]
Emanuel Leutze
, who designed the reverse of the medal to Cornelius Vanderbilt, was born in Gmünden, Württemberg, May 24, 1816. His parents emigrated to America while he was still a child, and settled in Fredericksburg, Virginia. In 1841 he went to Europe, and studied art at Düsseldorf under Professor Lessing. He returned to America in 1859, and took up his residence in Washington. Among his principal paintings, which are mostly historical, and relate to America, are: Columbus before the Council of Salamanca, Columbus in chains, Columbus before Queen Isabella, Washington crossing the Delaware, Washington at Monmouth, and Washington at Princeton. One of his last works is the fresco in the Capitol at Washington, "Westward the star of empire takes its way." He died in Washington, July 18, 1868.
Cornelius Vanderbilt was born on Staten Island, New York, May 27, 1794. He went to New York city early in life, and engaged in the shipping business, in which, by his energy and perseverance, he in time acquired wealth, and became owner of several lines of steamers, running from New York to places along the coast. In 1851 he established a line of steamers to California, and in 1855 another to Europe. In March, 1862, he presented to the United States Government the magnificent ship which bore his name, for which generous gift Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He was made president of the New York and Harlem Railroad Company in May, 1863; of the Hudson River Railroad Company in June, 1865; and of the New York Central Railroad Company in December, 1867. In November, 1869, the two last were consolidated, with a joint capital of ninety millions of dollars. He died in the city of New York, January 4, 1877. Cornelius Vanderbilt was, at the time of his death, one of the richest men in the world. Among his charities was a gift of one million dollars to the "Central University of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South," in Nashville, Tennessee, which, in consequence of this munificence, was named, in honor of him, Vanderbilt University. He was known by the sobriquet of "Commodore."