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Featured Article: Cornelius Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt c. 1844–1860

Cornelius Vanderbilt (May 27, 1794 - January 4, 1877) was an American industrialist, born on Staten Island, New York. He entered the transportation business at the age of 16 when he established a freight-and-passenger ferry service between Staten Island and Manhattan. He owned a fleet of schooners during the War of 1812, entered the steamer business in 1818, and bought his first steamship in 1829. Rapidly expanding his operations, he became a vigorous competitor, reducing his rates and simultaneously improving his ships. Vanderbilt soon controlled much of the Hudson River trade; when his rivals paid him to take his traffic elsewhere, he set up routes from Long Island Sound to Providence, Rhode Island, and Boston.

Popular Article: Herman Wouk

Herman Wouk in 1955

Herman Wouk (May 27, 1915 – May 17, 2019) was an American author best known for historical fiction. The Caine Mutiny (1951) made Wouk an international success, winning the Pulitzer Prize in fiction. It was made into a major motion picture starring Humphrey Bogart as Captain Queeg that was released in 1954. The film received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor.

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The 1997 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Italian playwright Dario Fo (source: Dario Fo)

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