Grace Vanderbilt
| Grace Vanderbilt | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Grace Graham Wilson September 3, 1870 512 Fifth Avenue Manhattan, New York City |
| Died | January 7, 1953 (aged 82) 1048 Fifth Avenue Manhattan, New York City |
| Resting place | Moravian Cemetery |
| Residence | 640 Fifth Avenue |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Cornelius Vanderbilt III |
| Children |
Cornelius Vanderbilt IV Grace Vanderbilt |
| Parent(s) | Richard Thornton Wilson, Sr. Melissa Clementine Johnston |
| Relatives |
Richard Thornton Wilson, Jr. (brother) Mary Goelet (niece) |
Grace Graham Wilson Vanderbilt (September 3, 1870 – January 7, 1953) was an American socialite. She was the wife of Cornelius Vanderbilt III. She was one of the last Vanderbilts to live the luxurious life of the "head of society" that her predecessors such as Alice and Alva Vanderbilt enjoyed.
Born on September 3, 1870, Grace was the youngest child of New York banker Richard Thornton Wilson, Sr. and Melissa Clementine Johnston. Grace's sister Mary ("May") married Ogden Goelet and her sister Belle married Sir Michael Henry Herbert, younger brother of the 13th Earl of Pembroke. The sisters were known in London society as "the marrying Wilsons." One of her brothers was banker Richard Thornton Wilson, Jr.. Another brother, Marshall Orme Wilson, married Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, youngest daughter of William Backhouse Astor, Jr. and Caroline Webster Schermerhorn of the Astor family.
She eloped with Cornelius "Neily" Vanderbilt III, son of Cornelius Vanderbilt II and Alice Claypoole Gwynne of the Vanderbilt family, in 1896. This led to a violent disagreement between Neily and his father, which lasted many years. Neily and Grace remained married for the rest of their lives and had two children, Cornelius IV (April 30, 1898 – July 7, 1974) and Grace (September 25, 1899 – January 28, 1964).
Following the War, she and her husband frequently returned to Europe, becoming friends and guests of numerous members of European royalty including Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany, and his brother, Prince Henry of Prussia, King Albert I of Belgium, Crown Prince Olav of Norway, Queen Marie of Romania, the Shah of Iran, and every British monarch since Queen Victoria.
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