William A. V. Cecil
William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil | |
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Born | |
Died | October 31, 2017 Asheville, North Carolina | (aged 89)
Nationality | American |
Education | Harvard University |
Occupation | Businessman |
Spouse | Mary Lee Ryan |
Children | 2 |
Parent(s) | John Francis Amherst Cecil Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt |
Relatives | George Washington Vanderbilt II (grandfather) Edith Stuyvesant Gerry (grandmother) George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil (brother) |
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 (1900–1976). He was the grandson of George Washington Vanderbilt II, and the great-grandson of William Henry Vanderbilt. His great-great grandfather was railroad and steamship baron, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Career
Cecil was a graduate of Harvard University. 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 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.[1]
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.[2]
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.[3]
Ancestry
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References
- ^ "NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK NOMINATION: BILTMORE ESTATE" (PDF). nps.gov. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- ^ "The Biltmore Equestrian Center". biltmore.com. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
- ^ William A.V. Cecil, Vanderbilt's grandson and Biltmore owner, dead at 89, citizen-times.com; accessed October 31, 2017.
External links
- About Us, biltmore.com; accessed October 31, 2017.