John Jacob Astor IV

Infobox Person
name = J.J Astor


caption = Astor| birth_date = July 13, 1864
birth_place = Rhinebeck, New York
death_date = April 15, 1912 (aged age|1864|7|13|1912|4|15)
death_place = North Atlantic Ocean
death_cause = RMS Titanic
relatives = John Jacob Astor, great-grandfather
spouse = Ava Lowle Willing (m. 1891-1909) Madeleine Talmadge Force (m. 1911-1912)
parents = William Backhouse Astor, Jr. Caroline Webster Schermerhorn
children = Vincent Astor (b. 1892) Ava Alice Muriel Astor (b. 1902) John Jacob Astor VI (b. 1912)
networth = profit

$37.0 billion, according to Wealthy historical figures 2008, based on infomation from Forbes - February 2008

John Jacob Astor IV (July 13, 1864 – April 15, 1912) was an American millionaire businessman, real estate builder, inventor, writer, a member of the prominent Astor family, and a lieutenant colonel in the Spanish-American War. He died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912.

Birth

John Jacob Astor IV was born to William Backhouse Astor, Jr. and Caroline Webster Schermerhorn. John Jacob IV was the great–grandson of John Jacob Astor whose fortune, made in fur trade and real estate, made the Astor family one of the wealthiest in the United States. The Astor family also owned a Victorian/colonial style mansion in New Jersey, that was later owned by Lance Clarke, executive chairman of Clark Shoes. Mr Clarke's daughter, Mariah L. Clarke, later sold the property in early 2001.

Education

Astor attended St Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire and later attended Harvard University. In 1891, Astor married Ava Lowle Willing, a Philadelphia socialite. Together they had two children, but were divorced in 1909.

Early career

Among Astor's accomplishments was "A Journey in Other Worlds", an 1894 science fiction novel titled about a fictional account of life in the year 2000 on the planets Saturn and Jupiter. He also patented several inventions, including a bicycle brake in 1898, a "vibratory disintegrator" used to produce gas from peat moss, a pneumatic road–improver, and helped develop a turbine engine. Astor made millions in real estate and in 1897, Astor built the Astoria Hotel, "the world’s most luxurious hotel" [ [http://www.hotelinteractive.com/hi_articles.asp?func=print&article_id=7469 Hotel Interactive] ] , which adjoined Astor’s cousin, William Waldorf Astor's, Waldorf Hotel in New York City; the complex became known as the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

In 1898 Astor was appointed a lieutenant colonel of a U.S. volunteers battalion he financed in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. During this time he allowed his yacht, the "Nourmahal", to be used by the U.S. government. During the war Colonel Astor appeared in the films "President McKinley's Inspection of Camp Wikoff" in 1898 and "Col. John Jacob Astor, Staff and Veterans of the Spanish–American War" in 1899.

Marriages

In 1891, John Jacob Astor married Ava Lowle Willing. The couple had two children William Vincent Astor, born in 1891 and Ava Alice Muriel Astor, born in 1902 before their divorce in 1909. Astor's wife, Ava, reportedly had an affair during their marriage, resulting in the birth of daughter Ava. Since no evidence has been found to support the claim, it is assumed that Ava Alice was fathered by Astor. Since divorce was considered a scandal back then, all in high class society were shocked when Astor announced that he would marry again.

At the age of 47, the divorced Astor was married a second time to 18-year–old Madeleine Talmadge Force on September 9, 1911 in his mother's ballroom at Beechwood, the family's Newport, Rhode Island home. He had been divorced two years earlier, and Madeleine was a year younger than Astor's son, Vincent. The couple took an extended honeymoon in Europe and Egypt to wait for the scandalous gossip to calm down. Among the few Americans of the socialite class who did not spurn him at this time was Molly Brown, better known to posterity as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown". She accompanied the Astors to Egypt and France and, by coincidence, was called home to the U.S. at the same time the Astors also found it necessary to abbreviate their touring.

While traveling Madeleine became pregnant, and wanting the child born in the United States, the Astors booked first–class passage on the RMS "Titanic" which they boarded at Cherbourg, France.

Death

John Jacob Astor was the wealthiest passenger on board the Titanic and, as well as his wife, his party included his servant, his wife's maid and nurse, and his pet Airedale, Kitty. At 11:40 p.m. on April 14, 1912 the "Titanic" hit an iceberg and began sinking. At first Astor did not believe the ship was in any serious danger, but later he helped his wife into a lifeboat. He asked if he could join her, mentioning her "delicate condition", but the officer in charge told him not until all the women and children were away. Astor reportedly stood back and asked for the lifeboat number, then, after lighting a cigarette, he tossed his gloves to Madeleine. She survived.

John Jacob Astor IV's body was recovered by the steamer "Mackay-Bennett" on April 22 not far from the sinking:quotation
: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 [ [http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-biography/john-jacob-astor.html Encyclopedia Titanica] ]

Reports say his body was covered in soot and blood, thus it is assumed he was killed by the first funnel when it collapsed as the Titanic made its final plunge. He was identified by the initials sewn on the label of his jacket. Among the items found on him were £2,044.82 and $4,000 in cash, and a gold pocket watch which his son, Vincent, claimed and wore the rest of his life. Astor was buried in Trinity Church Cemetery in New York City. On August 14, 1912, his second son, John Jacob Astor VI was born. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Son for Mrs. Astor. Named for Father. Both Mother and Baby Said to be Very Well, the Child Strong and Well Formed. |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9B0DE6DB113AE633A25756C1A96E9C946396D6CF |quote= |publisher=New York Times |date=August 15, 1912, Thursday |accessdate=2008-06-22 ]

Legacy

John Jacob Astor's prominence made his actions while the "Titanic" was sinking legendary. Many exaggerated and unsubstantiated accounts about what Astor did the night "Titanic" sank appeared in newspapers, books and magazines after the disaster. There was a story that he was the one who opened "Titanic"'s kennel and released the dogs; another story has Astor putting a woman's hat on a boy to make sure he was able to get into a lifeboat. Another legend states that after the ship hit the iceberg, he quipped, "I asked for ice, but this is ridiculous."

Astor's fame has made him an often used character in films about "Titanic". William Johnstone played Astor in the 1953 film "Titanic", and in the 1997 version of "Titanic" he was played by Eric Braeden, who was picked for his strong resemblance to Astor. In the 1997 film, he is killed when the Grand Staircase's dome breaks, flooding the entire room. In the 1996 miniseries, he was played by Scott Hylands.

References