Born in New York City, he joined the Navy on April 24, 1839, and served as a midshipman aboard the frigate Brandywine (1839–40) and the sloop Fairfield (1840–43) in the Mediterranean Squadron, before returning to the U.S. aboard the sloop Vandalia in 1843[1] to attend the Naval School at Philadelphia, graduating with the rank of passed midshipman on July 2, 1845.

[2] In February 1862 he commissioned the steamer Clifton, and sailed from New York to Ship Island for duty with the Mortar Flotilla of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.

In April, during the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, Clifton towed 21 mortar schooners into the Mississippi River, and supported them as they bombarded the fortifications below New Orleans.

During the voyage Vanderbilt also served as the flagship of Commodore Charles Wilkes Flying Squadron in the West Indies, and captured several British blockade runners, including the Peterhoff.

He was commander of the Naval Rendezvous (recruitment station) at San Francisco in 1873, and was commissioned as commodore on August 8, 1876, serving as a Member of the Board of Examiners from 1876 to 1879.