William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil

William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil
Born	August 17, 1928
Nationality	American
Education	Harvard University
Occupation	Businessman
Parent(s)	John Francis Amherst Cecil Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt

William Amherst Vanderbilt "Bill" Cecil (born August 17, 1928) is an American heir. He is an operator of the Biltmore Estate through his company, The Biltmore Company.

Biography

Early life

He is the younger son of John Francis Amherst Cecil (1890–1954) and Cornelia Stuyvesant Vanderbilt (1900–1976). He is the great-grandson of William Henry Vanderbilt and a second cousin of Gloria Vanderbilt. On his father's side, he is a direct descendant of William Cecil, the chief adviser to Queen Elizabeth I in the 16th century, through his grandparents, Lord William Cecil and Mary Rothes Margaret Tyssen-Amherst, Baroness Amherst of Hackney.

He graduated from Harvard University.

Career

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

His wife Mary Lee Ryan is a first cousin of former First Lady Jacqueline Lee "Jackie" Bouvier, as their mothers Janet Norton Lee and Marion Merritt Lee were sisters. His son Bill Jr. is president and CEO of the company today, while Bill Jr.'s wife, Virginia "Ginger" Cecil, oversees the equestrian center at the estate, and is also on the Biltmore board of directors.

Ancestry

Family of William Amherst 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. 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. William Amherst 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

External links

• Semi-Biographical article on Biltmores website