Given Cornelius Vanderbilt's murky history with William Walker (a Nashville native), why did the Commodore agree to donate the $1mil to have the University founded in Nashville? I understand his second wife was a confederate sympathizer, and that her cousin actually selected the site, but does this not seem strange to anyone else, especially since the Commodore seemed to hold grudges?
Nashville, Tennessee near a juncture of Northern and Southern geography, transportation and culture. Then, as now, a rail center, it was easily accessible to both. Paraphrasing, the Commodore's motive was "to promote understanding and cooperation between North and South"; a noble, post-war motive.