John Jacob Astor IV
John Jacob Astor IV | |
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St Paul's School | |
Occupation | Business magnate |
Spouses | |
Children | |
Parent(s) | William Backhouse Astor Jr. Caroline Webster "Lina" Schermerhorn |
Relatives | Astor family |
Signature | |
John Jacob Astor IV (July 13, 1864 – April 15, 1912) was an American business magnate, real estate developer, investor, writer, lieutenant colonel in the Spanish–American War, and a prominent member of the Astor family. He died in the sinking of the Titanic during the early hours of April 15, 1912.[1] Astor was the richest passenger aboard the RMS Titanic and was thought to be among the richest people in the world at that time, with a net worth of roughly $87 million (equivalent to $2.75 billion in 2023) when he died.[2][3]
Early life, education, and family
John Jacob Astor IV was born on July 13, 1864, at his parents' country estate of
John was a great-grandson of German–American fur-trader
Astor attended
Career
Among Astor's accomplishments was A Journey in Other Worlds (1894), a science-fiction novel about life in the year 2000 on the planets Saturn and Jupiter.[7] He also patented several inventions, including a bicycle brake in 1898, a "vibratory disintegrator" used to produce gas from peat moss, and a pneumatic road-improver, and he helped develop a turbine engine.
Like generations of Astors before him, he also made millions in real estate. In 1897, Astor built the Astoria Hotel, "the world's most luxurious hotel",[8] in New York City, adjoining the Waldorf Hotel owned by Astor's cousin and rival, William. The complex became known as the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. The Waldorf-Astoria would later be the host location to the U.S. inquiries into the sinking of the RMS Titanic, on which Astor died.[4]
Military service
From 1894 to 1896, he was a colonel on the military staff of
During the war, he allowed his yacht Nourmahal to be used by the U.S. government. He appeared in the films President McKinley's Inspection of Camp Wikoff (1898) and Col. John Jacob Astor, Staff and Veterans of the Spanish–American War (1899).[4] As a result of his military service, Astor was entitled to the Spanish Campaign Medal. After the war, Astor was often referred to as "Colonel Astor."[11]
Astor was a member of several military and hereditary societies. He was an early member of the New York
Personal life
On February 17, 1891,[13] Astor married socialite Ava Lowle Willing, a daughter of Edward Shippen Willing and Alice Barton. The couple had two children:
- William Vincent Astor (November 15, 1891 – February 3, 1959), businessman and philanthropist
- Ava Alice Muriel Astor (July 7, 1902 – July 19, 1956)
Astor and Willing divorced in November 1909. Compounding the scandal of their divorce was Astor's announcement that he would remarry.
Residence
Astor's country estate,
His father's
The "Ferncliff Casino" sports pavilion (later called "Astor Courts") reportedly housed the first residential indoor swimming pool in the U.S., an indoor tennis court with vaulting of Guastavino tile, two squash courts, and guest bedrooms. On the lower level, there was a bowling alley and a shooting range.[19]
The estate was reduced to 50 acres (200,000 m2) and was renamed "Astor Courts", eventually becoming a wedding venue.
Titanic
While traveling, Madeleine Force Astor became pregnant. Wanting the child born in the U.S., the Astors boarded Titanic on her maiden voyage to New York. They embarked in
When Second Officer Charles Lightoller later arrived on A Deck to finish loading Lifeboat 4, Astor helped his wife, with her maid and nurse, into it. He then asked if he might join his wife because she was in "a delicate condition;" however, Lightoller told him men were not to be allowed to board until all the women and children had been loaded. According to Titanic passenger Archibald Gracie IV,
She was lifted up through the window, and her husband helped her on the other side, and when she got in, her husband was on one side of this window and I was on the other side, at the next window. I heard Mr Astor ask the second officer whether he would not be allowed to go aboard this boat to protect his wife. He said, "No, sir, no man is allowed on this boat or any of the boats until the ladies are off." Mr. Astor then said (something to the effect of) "Well, tell me the number of this boat so I may find her afterwards" and was told "Number 4."[24]
A news article posted in the Chicago Record Herald tells of Astor placing his wife into the final lifeboat then ordering Ida Sophia Hippach and her 17-year-old daughter Jean Gertrude to take the final two places before the boat was lowered away.[25] After Lifeboat 4 was lowered at 1:55 am, Astor is said to have stood alone while others tried to free the remaining collapsible boats;[4] he was last seen alive on the starboard bridge wing, smoking a cigarette with Jacques Futrelle. A mere half hour later, the ship disappeared beneath the ocean. Madeleine Force Astor, her nurse, and her maid survived. Colonel Astor; his valet, Victor Robbins; Kitty; and Futrelle did not.
In the aftermath, ships were sent out to retrieve the bodies from the site of the sinking; of the 1,517 passengers and crew who perished in the sinking, only 333 bodies were ever recovered. Astor's body was recovered on April 22 by the cable ship Mackay-Bennett.[4] Astor was identified by the initials sewn on the label of his jacket. Among the items found on him was a gold pocket watch, which his son Vincent claimed and wore the rest of his life.[26]
NO. 124 – MALE – ESTIMATED AGE 50 – LIGHT HAIR & MOUSTACHE.
CLOTHING – Blue serge suit; blue handkerchief with "A.V."; belt with gold buckle; brown boots with red rubber soles; brown flannel shirt; "J.J.A." on back of collar.
EFFECTS – Gold watch; cuff links, gold with diamond; diamond ring with three stones; £225 in English notes; $2440 in notes; £5 in gold; 7s. in silver; 5 ten franc pieces; gold pencil; pocketbook.
FIRST CLASS. NAME- J.J. ASTOR IV[4]
In his memoir, Gracie claimed that he heard Astor's body was in a crushed condition. This led to popular belief that Astor was killed by the first
Astor was buried in Trinity Church Cemetery in Manhattan, New York City. Four months after Titanic sank, Madeleine Astor gave birth to his second son, John Jacob "Jakey" Astor VI.[4][30]
Estate
Astor left $69 million of his $85 million estate (US$2.68 billion in 2023
To Madeleine Force Astor, he left $100,000 (US$3.16 million in 2023[2]) as an outright bequest, as well as a $5 million trust fund (US$158 million in 2023[2]) from which she was provided an income. Additionally, she was given the use of his New York City mansion (840 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan) and all its furnishings, his Newport mansion (Beechwood) and all its furnishings, the pick of whichever luxury limousine she wanted from his collection, and five of his prized horses—as long as she did not remarry.
His daughter Ava (who lived with her mother, also named Ava) received a $10 million trust fund (US$316 million in 2023[2]). Upon turning 21, John Jacob VI inherited the $3 million trust fund Astor had set aside for him (US$94.7 million in 2023[2]).[32]
Legacy
According to Walter Lord, "After [the Titanic] sank, the
In popular culture
Astor's fame has made him a frequent character in films, literary, and stage works, especially in stories about the Titanic. Austrian actor
References
- Frank D. Millet, the artist, are perhaps the most widely known of the passengers. ... .
- ^ a b c d e f 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Col. John Jacob Astor left estate worth $86,966,611". Spartanburg Herald. South Carolina. Associated Press. June 14, 1913. p. 1.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "John Jacob Astor IV". Encyclopedia Titanica. Retrieved October 27, 2010.
Colonel John Jacob Astor IV was born in Rhinebeck, New York on July 13th, 1864 the son of William Astor and great-grandson of John Jacob Astor the fur trader. Astor was educated at St. Paul's School, Concord and later went to Harvard. After a period of travelling abroad (1888–91) he returned to the United States to manage the family fortune. He had homes at 840 Fifth Avenue, New York and at Ferncliff, Rhinebeck, New York. ... .
- ^ "An Age of Splendor, and Hotel One-Upmanship". The New York Times. June 18, 2006.
His younger cousin, known as Jack, enrolled in Harvard, left without a degree, traveled and joined 'about two dozen clubs.' He tinkered with inventions, married unwisely, and inspired by Jules Verne, wrote a work of science fiction. Often ridiculed in the press, he bore the sobriquet 'Jack Ass.'
- ^ William Alan Morrison, Waldorf Astoria, Arcadia Publishing - 2014, page 29
- ^ Foster, John Wilson (2002). The Age of Titanic: Cross-Currents in Anglo-American Culture.
- ^ Turkel, Stanley (April 4, 2007). "The Original Waldorf/Astoria Hotel". hotelinteractive.com.
- New International Encyclopedia(1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
- ^ "Col. John Jacob Astor". The New York Times (April 16, 1912).
- ISBN 978-0-8253-0223-7.
- ^ The American Almanac, Year-book, Cyclopaedia and Atlas. New York American and journal. 1902. p. 177.
- ^ "Colonel John Jacob Astor IV". Titanic History Website.
- ^ "Titanic Survivor Stories – Madeleine Talmage Force Astor". rmstitanic.net. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "Part II: Vincent, the Astor Who Gave Away the Money". NewYorkSocialDaily. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ^ "Col. Astor Weds Madeleine Force". Encyclopedia Titanica. November 4, 2003. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ Automobile Club of America (November 12, 1910). "Little Journeys to the Homes of Members: Ferncliff". The Club Journal. No. 2. p. 1002ff.
- ^ Goldberger, Paul (1985). A Monograph of the works of McKim, Mead & White, 1879–1915.
- ^ "About". AstorCourts.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
- ^ "Fate of the pets who sailed on the Titanic". Lostandfond.co.uk. October 2, 2010. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
- ^ "John Jacob Astor IV". titanic-passengers.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2012.
- ^ On a Sea of Glass: The Life & Loss of the RMS Titanic by Tad Fitch, J. Kent Layton & Bill Wormstedt. Amberley Books, March 2012. pp 165-166
- ISBN 978-0-14-004757-8.
- ^ "Online reference". United States Senate Inquiry into the Titanic.
- ^ "Chicagoans saved by Astor – Chicago Record Herald". Encyclopedia Titanica. April 22, 1912. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
- ^ Belcher, David (November 28, 2013). "Tracing a Precious Relic of the Titanic". The New York Times. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
- ^ National Geographic, December 1985, Vol. 168, No.6 page 712
- ^ "The Two Deaths of John Jacob Astor -George Behe's "Titanic" Tidbits".
- ^ "Stead and Astor cling to Raft". Worcester Telegram. April 20, 1912.
- ^ "Son for Mrs. Astor. Named for Father. Both Mother and Baby Said to be Very Well, the Child Strong and Well Formed". The New York Times. August 15, 1912. Retrieved June 22, 2008.
Baby is the Sixth John Jacob Astor. Mrs. Madeleine Force Astor, survivor of the Titanic. ... .
- ^ "Astor Bequests Have All Been Paid". The New York Times. September 2004. Retrieved April 20, 2012.
- ^ "Astor Estate Goes To Son". The Evening News. May 7, 1912.
- ^ "John Jacob Astor Titanic Quote". Snopes. July 18, 2000.
- ^ Hallenbeck, Brent (March 20, 2012). "Born to Play the Role". The Burlington Free Press. Archived from the original on December 4, 2013.
External links
- Works by John Jacob Astor IV at Project Gutenberg
- Works by or about John Jacob Astor IV at Internet Archive
- Works by John Jacob Astor IV at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
- Funeral of Col. Astor at news.hrvh.org