George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil

George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil (February 27, 1925 – October 19, 2020) was an American businessman who was the owner and chairman of Biltmore Farms.[1][2]

Biography

George was the first of two sons born to John Francis Amherst Cecil (1890–1954) and Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt (1900–1976) and was the grandson of George Washington Vanderbilt II, the founder of the Biltmore Estate. He was educated in Europe, attended the University of Edinburgh, and served in the Royal Navy during World War II. Upon the death of his mother, Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt, George was given the choice of taking over Biltmore Farms (the family dairy) or the Estate.[3] Leaving the estate for his younger brother William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil, George chose to take ownership of Biltmore Farms which, at the time, was much more profitable. Biltmore Farms had continued to grow under George's management, transforming it into a profitable real estate business that serves the Asheville area.[3][4]

Personal life

Cecil was a direct descendant of both William Henry Vanderbilt and, on his father's side, William Cecil, the chief adviser to Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century, through his grandparents, Lord William Cecil and Mary Rothes Margaret Cecil, Baroness Amherst of Hackney.

He married Nancy Owen Cecil and together they had six children: John ("Jack") F. A. V. Cecil,[2][5] Edith Ann Cecil, Catherine Cecil Taylor, Margaret Cecil Sinnott, Louisa Cecil Harrison, and Christopher Cecil. His elder son, John F. A. V. Cecil, is currently the president of Biltmore Farms.[2][3]

Cecil was born at Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina. He died in October 2020 at the age of 95. His wife Nancy predeceased him.[6]

Ancestry

Ancestors of George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil

16. Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter 8. William Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Exeter 17. Isabella Poyntz 4. Lord William Cecil 18. Thomas Pakenham, 2nd Earl of Longford 9. Lady Georgina Pakenham 19. Lady Georgiana Emma Charlotte Lygon 2. Hon. John Francis Amherst Cecil 20. William George Daniel-Tyssen 10. William Tyssen-Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst of Hackney 21. Mary Fountaine 5. Mary Tyssen-Amherst, 2nd Baroness Amherst of Hackney 22. Adm. Robert Mitford 11. Margaret Susan Mitford 23. Margaret Dunsmore 1. George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil 24. Cornelius Vanderbilt 12. William Henry Vanderbilt 25. Sophia Johnson 6. George Washington Vanderbilt II 26. Rev. Samuel Kissam 13. Maria Louisa Kissam 27. Margaret Hamilton Adams 3. Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt 28. George Andrew Dresser 14. Maj. George Warren Dresser 29. Hannah Brown 7. Edith Stuyvesant Dresser 30. Daniel LeRoy 15. Susan Fish LeRoy 31. Susan Elizabeth Fish

See also

• Biltmore Farms Biography
• Biltmore Estate History

References

1. "The Vanderbilt Family". Biltmore. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
2. "Executive Team – Biltmore Farms, LLC Asheville NC". Biltmore Farms. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
3. Journal, Becky BullStaff Reporter of The Wall Street (1998-11-04). "In Asheville, a Vanderbilt Sets Sights Beyond Tourism". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
4. "Biltmore's Cecil Family Inspires Student Leaders". www.buncombeschools.org. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-05-29. Retrieved 2019-05-29.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
6. "George Cecil, Vanderbilt's grandson and Biltmore Farms owner, dies at 95". Citizens Times. Retrieved 24 October 2020.