John Jacob Astor III

John Jacob Astor III was a member of the prominent Astor family and a businessman in his own right, with interests in New York City and London. He was the son of William Backhouse Astor Sr. and Margaret Rebecca Armstrong, and the grandson of John Jacob Astor, the founder of the American Fur Company. Astor III was also a cousin of William Backhouse Astor Jr. and a nephew of Henry Astor. He was educated at Columbia University and later traveled to Europe, visiting Paris, Rome, and London, where he met with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Queen Victoria.

● Early Life

Astor III was born on June 10, 1822, in New York City, to a family of significant wealth and influence, with connections to the Rothschild family and the Vanderbilt family. He spent his early years in New York City, attending Columbia University and developing an interest in business and finance, inspired by the likes of Cornelius Vanderbilt and Jay Gould. Astor III's family was also connected to the Livingston family and the Schuyler family, and he was a distant relative of Robert Livingston and Philip Schuyler. He was also acquainted with Martin Van Buren, the eighth President of the United States, and William Henry Seward, the United States Secretary of State.

● Business Career

Astor III began his business career in the shipping industry, working with his father, William Backhouse Astor Sr., and his uncle, Henry Astor, to manage the family's interests in the American Fur Company and the Pacific Fur Company. He later expanded the family's business into real estate, investing in properties in New York City, including the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, which was built by his son, William Waldorf Astor. Astor III was also a member of the New York Stock Exchange and had dealings with J.P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie. He was a director of the Illinois Central Railroad and had interests in the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.

● Personal Life

Astor III married Charlotte Augusta Gibbes in 1846, and the couple had two children, William Waldorf Astor and John Jacob Astor IV. He was a member of the Episcopal Church and attended Trinity Church in New York City. Astor III was also a member of the New York Yacht Club and the Union Club of the City of New York, and he was acquainted with Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, and Elihu Root, the United States Secretary of State. He was a supporter of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Public Library, and he was a friend of Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller.

● Philanthropy

Astor III was a philanthropist and supported various causes, including the New York City Mission Society and the Children's Aid Society. He was also a supporter of the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, and he donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Public Library. Astor III was a member of the New York City Board of Education and supported the Columbia University and the New York University. He was also a supporter of the American Museum of Natural History and the New York Zoological Society, and he was acquainted with Henry Fairfield Osborn and Madison Grant.

● Legacy

Astor III died on February 22, 1890, in New York City, leaving behind a legacy as a businessman and philanthropist. He was remembered for his contributions to the Astor family and his support of various causes, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Public Library. Astor III's son, William Waldorf Astor, went on to become a prominent figure in British society, serving as a member of the House of Lords and supporting the British Museum and the Royal Academy of Arts. His other son, John Jacob Astor IV, died in the RMS Titanic disaster, but his legacy lived on through his daughter, Madeleine Talmage Astor, who married William Karl Dick and supported the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. Category:American businesspeople