John Jacob Astor III
Encyclopedia
John Jacob Astor III was the elder son of William Backhouse Astor, Sr.
and the wealthiest member of the Astor family
in his generation. He was the founder of the English branch of the Astor family.
and the University of Göttingen, following which he went to Harvard Law School
. He practised law for a year, solely to qualify himself for assisting in the management of the immense estate, one half of which later descended to him.
During the American Civil War
he served as a volunteer aide-de-camp
to General George B. McClellan
. For his services during the Peninsular Campaign he was brevetted
brigadier general
of U.S. Volunteers. He always regarded this period as the best of his life, and attended the reunions of the Loyal Legion with zeal.
As a businessman, he dabbled in railroad investment, but was forced to yield control of the original New York Central Railroad
line (from Albany
to Buffalo
) to Cornelius Vanderbilt
. His principal business interest was of course the vast Astor Estate real estate holdings in New York City
, which he managed profitably and parsimoniously.
In 1846, he married Charlotte Augusta Gibbs (27 February 1825 - 12 December 1887) of South Carolina
. They had one son, William Waldorf Astor. In 1859 he built a home at 350 Fifth Avenue, which is today the street address of the Empire State Building
. Later, he added an imposing vacation home, Beaulieu, in Newport, Rhode Island
.
John Jacob Astor III continued the charitable works made by his ancestors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
(in 1887 he presented it with his wife's collection of costly laces and left a bequest of $50,000), Trinity Church
(with his brother he presented as a memorial to their father a sculptured reredos
and altar
costing $80,000), and the Astor Library
(he left a bequest of $450,000, bringing the family benefactions to the institution up to about to $1,500,000). He also gave freely to the New York Cancer Hospital
($100,000 bequest), the Woman's Hospital, St. Luke's Hospital ($100,000 bequest) and the Children's Aid Society
.
He took an active interest in the Astor Library beyond monetary donations. He was treasurer of its board of trustees, and in 1879 deeded to it the three lots on which the northern wing of the present building was afterward erected by him. He presented it with his collection of early books and rare manuscripts.
Charlotte Astor, deeply religious, supported the newly formed Children's Aid Society
and sat on the board of the Women's Hospital of New York, an institution that to her dismay refused to accept cancer patients. Deciding to do something about it, she persuaded her husband to donate the money ($225,000) to erect the New York Cancer Hospital
's first wing, the "Astor Pavilion." For twenty years, she supported a German industrial school, and from 1872 until her death she was a manager of the Woman's Hospital, besides taking an active part in the Niobrara League to aid the Indians and in many other charities. She bequeathed $150,000 to charitable organizations.
Aristocratic by inclination, John Jacob Astor increasingly visited London
in his later years, and his only child, William Waldorf Astor, would move there permanently with his family in 1891.
John Jacob Astor III died on February 22, 1890 and was interred in the Trinity Church Cemetery
in Manhattan, New York.
William Backhouse Astor, Sr.
William Backhouse Astor, Sr. was an American businessman and member of the Astor family.-Origins and schooling:...
and the wealthiest member of the Astor family
Astor family
The Astor family is a Anglo-American business family of German descent notable for their prominence in business, society, and politics.-Founding family members:...
in his generation. He was the founder of the English branch of the Astor family.
Biography
Astor studied at Columbia CollegeColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and the University of Göttingen, following which he went to Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School
Harvard Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is the oldest continually-operating law school in the United States and is home to the largest academic law library in the world. The school is routinely ranked by the U.S...
. He practised law for a year, solely to qualify himself for assisting in the management of the immense estate, one half of which later descended to him.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he served as a volunteer aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to General George B. McClellan
George B. McClellan
George Brinton McClellan was a major general during the American Civil War. He organized the famous Army of the Potomac and served briefly as the general-in-chief of the Union Army. Early in the war, McClellan played an important role in raising a well-trained and organized army for the Union...
. For his services during the Peninsular Campaign he was brevetted
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
brigadier general
Brigadier general (United States)
A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
of U.S. Volunteers. He always regarded this period as the best of his life, and attended the reunions of the Loyal Legion with zeal.
As a businessman, he dabbled in railroad investment, but was forced to yield control of the original New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
line (from Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
to Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
) to Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Cornelius Vanderbilt , also known by the sobriquet Commodore, was an American entrepreneur who built his wealth in shipping and railroads. He was also the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family and one of the richest Americans in history...
. His principal business interest was of course the vast Astor Estate real estate holdings in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, which he managed profitably and parsimoniously.
In 1846, he married Charlotte Augusta Gibbs (27 February 1825 - 12 December 1887) of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. They had one son, William Waldorf Astor. In 1859 he built a home at 350 Fifth Avenue, which is today the street address of the Empire State Building
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
. Later, he added an imposing vacation home, Beaulieu, in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
.
John Jacob Astor III continued the charitable works made by his ancestors to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
(in 1887 he presented it with his wife's collection of costly laces and left a bequest of $50,000), Trinity Church
Trinity Church, New York
Trinity Church at 79 Broadway, Lower Manhattan, is a historic, active parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of New York...
(with his brother he presented as a memorial to their father a sculptured reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
and altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
costing $80,000), and the Astor Library
Astor Library
The Astor Library was a free public library developed primarily through the collaboration of New York merchant John Jacob Astor and New England educator and bibliographer Joseph Cogswell. It was primarily meant as a research library, and its books did not circulate...
(he left a bequest of $450,000, bringing the family benefactions to the institution up to about to $1,500,000). He also gave freely to the New York Cancer Hospital
New York Cancer Hospital
The New York Cancer Hospital in New York City was a cancer treatment and research institution founded in 1884 . The hospital was located at 455 Central Park West between 105th St and 106th St...
($100,000 bequest), the Woman's Hospital, St. Luke's Hospital ($100,000 bequest) and the Children's Aid Society
Children's Aid Society
__notoc__The Children’s Aid Society is a private charitable organization based in New York City. It serves 150,000 children per year, providing foster care, medical and mental health services, and a wide range of educational, recreational and advocacy services through dozens of community centers,...
.
He took an active interest in the Astor Library beyond monetary donations. He was treasurer of its board of trustees, and in 1879 deeded to it the three lots on which the northern wing of the present building was afterward erected by him. He presented it with his collection of early books and rare manuscripts.
Charlotte Astor, deeply religious, supported the newly formed Children's Aid Society
Children's Aid Society
__notoc__The Children’s Aid Society is a private charitable organization based in New York City. It serves 150,000 children per year, providing foster care, medical and mental health services, and a wide range of educational, recreational and advocacy services through dozens of community centers,...
and sat on the board of the Women's Hospital of New York, an institution that to her dismay refused to accept cancer patients. Deciding to do something about it, she persuaded her husband to donate the money ($225,000) to erect the New York Cancer Hospital
New York Cancer Hospital
The New York Cancer Hospital in New York City was a cancer treatment and research institution founded in 1884 . The hospital was located at 455 Central Park West between 105th St and 106th St...
's first wing, the "Astor Pavilion." For twenty years, she supported a German industrial school, and from 1872 until her death she was a manager of the Woman's Hospital, besides taking an active part in the Niobrara League to aid the Indians and in many other charities. She bequeathed $150,000 to charitable organizations.
Aristocratic by inclination, John Jacob Astor increasingly visited London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in his later years, and his only child, William Waldorf Astor, would move there permanently with his family in 1891.
John Jacob Astor III died on February 22, 1890 and was interred in the Trinity Church Cemetery
Trinity Church Cemetery
Trinity Church Cemetery consists of three separate burial grounds associated with Trinity Church in Manhattan, New York, USA. The first was established in the Churchyard located at 74 Trinity Place at Wall Street and Broadway...
in Manhattan, New York.