Cornelius Roosevelt

Who was Cornelius Roosevelt?

Cornelius Van Schaack "C.V.S." Roosevelt was an American businessman from New York City and a member of the Roosevelt family.

Roosevelt was born in New York City to James Jacobus Roosevelt and Maria Van Schaack, and the last full-blooded Dutch Roosevelt of his line. His brother James John Roosevelt served as a New York Congressman. He attended Columbia College but academic life did not suit him, and he did not graduate. However, he was adept at business; an importer of hardware and plate glass, he became his father's partner, inherited a large fortune, and was one of the five richest men in New York City. He was one of the founders of the Chemical Bank of New York City, which later became Chase. He died in Oyster Bay, New York.

On October 9, 1821, he married Margaret Barnhill, a daughter of Robert Craig Barnhill and Elizabeth Potts. Margaret was a descendant of English and Irish Quakers. She was also a descendant of Thomas Pott of Wales through mother Elizabeth. C.V.S. and Margaret had six sons:

Silas Weir Roosevelt

James Alfred Roosevelt, father of William Emlen Roosevelt