Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt was an American businessman and a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family, known for their wealth and influence in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Born on October 20, 1877, he was the son of William Henry Vanderbilt and Margaret Emerson. Alfred was involved in various business ventures, including the Vanderbilt Hotel in New York City. Tragically, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Lusitania on May 7, 1915, during World War I. He was traveling to Europe for business when the ship was torpedoed by a German submarine. His death marked the end of a significant chapter in the Vanderbilt family's legacy.