Mystery Friday Foto #12 Solved; William K. Vanderbilt Jr. with Family and Friends on a Caribbean Cruise
Did you identify Willie K. with family and friends in this photo?
Identify;
- The individuals left to right
Robert Lancaster, Mrs. Willie K. Vanderbilt, Willie K., Willie K.‘s son (William Jr.) and Pierre Merillon. Seated are Mrs. Vanderbilt’s children Barclay and Rosemary Warbuton.
- The approximate date. Provide a rationale.
November 13, 1933 as per the caption on the back of the original photo. See below.
- Possible location. Provide a rationale.
On the stern of the ALVA, (see the steering helm just above Rosamund's shoulders) arriving home to Willie K's Miami home base at Fisher's Island, Florida after a months long cruise through the Caribbean. Just 2 days later, William K. Vanderbilt III was tragically killed in an auto accident on his way home to New York from Florida.
Comments (4)
Congrats to Steve Lucas, Art Kleiner, and Arthur Mauriello for identifying William K. Vanderbilt II and Fisher's Island. Kudos to Art Kleiner for wonderful supporting documentation, see below.
Greg O.
November 13, 1933, Fisher's Island, Miami, Florida
Robert Lancaster and Mrs. Willie K. Vanderbilt
Willie K. (II), Willie K.‘s son (William Jr. III) and Pierre Merillon
Mrs. Vanderbilt’s children Barclay and Rosemary Warbuton
The caption and date on the rear of the original photo.
Driving home to New York from this trip, William K. Vanderbilt III, was tragically killed in Ridgeland, South Carolina just 2 days after this mystery photo, when the Bentley he was driving struck a truck on the side of the road.
Comments
Left to right we have: Robert Lancaster; Rosamund (Warburton) Vanderbilt (Willie K’s 2nd. wife); Willie K. himself; William K. Vanderbilt III (Willie K.‘s son); Pierre Merillon.
The seated children are Barclay Warburton III and Rosemary Warburton, Willie K.‘s stepchildren. Since Willie K.‘s son died in late 1933, I’ll take a wild guess and date the photo at November 13, 1933. Looks like it was taken on the deck of a ship so it could be Willie K.‘s yacht ALVA at Fisher’s Island.
Robert Lancaster, Mrs. Willie K. Vanderbilt, Willie K., Willie K.‘s son (William Jr.) and Pierre Merillon. Seated are Mrs. Vanderbilt’s children Barclay and Rosemary Warbuton.
November 8, 1933 - The day the group arrived back from a Mediterranean cruise onboard Willie’s yacht, the Alva. Trip was documented in various publications using this photo.
Vanderbilt estate on Fisher’s island, Miami Beach. Also well documented.
The first group photo I’ve included was published on November 9. The second group photo was published on November 18 and includes information on the crash that killed Willie’s son in South Carolina just a few days after the photo was taken.
See next comment on who Pierre Merillon was.
Pierre Merillon was the great nephew of A.T. Stewart of whose family he inherited his wealth. Merillon often cruised with the Vanderbilts.
Looks like Mr. Vanderbilt with his son next to him and not sure of the other people. The location is probably Fisher Island Miami due to the palm tree in the background and the Alva went to Fisher Island every year during the winter.