John Jacob Astor IV facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Jacob Astor IV
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Astor in 1895
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| Born | July 13, 1864 Rhinebeck, New York, U.S.
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| Died | April 15, 1912 (aged 47) RMS Titanic, North Atlantic Ocean
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| Resting place | Trinity Church Cemetery, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Education | St Paul's School |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
| Net worth |  US$87 million (equivalent to $2.64 billion in 2022) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Ava Lowle Willing (1891-1910) (divorced) Madeleine Talmage Force (1911-1912) (his death) |
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| Parent(s) |
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| Relatives | See Astor family |
John Jacob "Jack" Astor IV (born July 13, 1864 – died April 15, 1912) was a very rich American businessman. He was also a real estate developer, an inventor, and a writer. He was a lieutenant colonel in the Spanish–American War and came from the famous Astor family.
Astor died when the RMS Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. He was the richest passenger on the ship and was considered one of the wealthiest people in the world at that time. His fortune was about $87 million, which would be billions of dollars today.
Contents
Astor's Many Careers
John Jacob Astor IV was a man of many talents. He wrote a science fiction novel called A Journey in Other Worlds in 1894. This book imagined what life might be like in the year 2000 on the planets Saturn and Jupiter.
He also invented several things. These included a special bicycle brake in 1898 and a machine that could turn peat moss into gas. He also helped create a new type of turbine engine.
Astor made a lot of his money from real estate. In 1897, he built the Astoria Hotel in New York City. It was known as "the world's most luxurious hotel." It was built next to the Waldorf Hotel, which belonged to his cousin. Together, these hotels became known as the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Later, the Waldorf-Astoria was where the U.S. government held its meetings to investigate the sinking of the Titanic.
Military Service
From 1894 to 1896, Astor worked for the New York Governor, Levi P. Morton, as a colonel. When the Spanish–American War started in 1898, Astor used his own money to create a volunteer artillery group called the "Astor Battery." This group fought in the Philippines.
In May 1898, Astor became a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Volunteers. He worked for Major General William Rufus Shafter in Cuba during the Siege of Santiago. He was later given an honorary promotion to colonel for his good work. He left the army in November 1898.
During the war, Astor also let the U.S. government use his private yacht, the Nourmahal. He even appeared in a few films about the war. Because of his service, he was often called "Colonel Astor."
Astor's Home: Ferncliff
Astor's large estate was called "Ferncliff" and was located in Rhinebeck, New York. His father had bought parts of this land over time. John Jacob Astor IV was born there.
In 1904, parts of the main house were rebuilt. A special sports building, called the "Casino" or "Astor Courts," was added. This building was very modern for its time. It had the first indoor swimming pool in a home in the U.S. It also had an indoor tennis court, a bowling alley, and a shooting range. Today, the estate is smaller and is often used for weddings, including the wedding of Chelsea Clinton in 2010.
The Titanic Voyage
John Jacob Astor IV and his second wife, Madeleine, were traveling when Madeleine became pregnant. They wanted their baby to be born in the U.S., so they decided to return home on the Titanic. They boarded the ship in Cherbourg, France, in first class. They were the wealthiest passengers on board. They also brought their pet Airedale dog, Kitty, who sadly did not survive the sinking.
After the Titanic hit an iceberg, Astor told his wife about the collision. He tried to reassure her that the damage wasn't serious. Later, as the ship's lifeboats were being prepared, Astor remained calm. He and his family even played with the mechanical horses in the ship's gym. He told his wife, "We are safer here than in that little boat."
When it was time to load Lifeboat 4, Astor helped his wife, her maid, and her nurse get into it. He then asked if he could join his wife because she was pregnant. However, the officer in charge, Charles Lightoller, told him that men were not allowed to board until all women and children were safely in the boats.
After Lifeboat 4 was lowered, Astor was last seen standing alone on the ship's deck, smoking a cigarette. About half an hour later, the ship sank. Some survivors later claimed to have seen Astor in the water, holding onto a raft. They said he and another man could not hold on any longer and drowned. Madeleine Force Astor, her nurse, and her maid survived. Colonel Astor, his valet, and another passenger named Jacques Futrelle did not.
After the sinking, ships were sent to find bodies. Out of 1,517 people who died, only 333 bodies were found. Astor's body was found on April 22 by the ship Mackay-Bennett. He was identified by the initials sewn on his jacket. A gold pocket watch found on him was later claimed by his son, Vincent, who wore it for the rest of his life.
Astor's Will
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John Jacob Astor IV left most of his large fortune to his family. He left $69 million of his $85 million estate to his son, Vincent. This included his estate in Rhinebeck and his yacht.
To his wife, Madeleine, he left $100,000 and a trust fund of $5 million, which gave her an income. She also received the use of his mansions in New York City and Newport, along with their furniture. She could also choose any luxury car from his collection and five of his horses, as long as she did not remarry. His daughter, Ava, received a $10 million trust fund. His youngest son, John Jacob VI, inherited a $3 million trust fund when he turned 21.
Astor's Legacy and Legends
Because John Jacob Astor IV was so famous and wealthy, his death on the Titanic was big news. Many newspaper reports focused on him. This also led to many exaggerated or untrue stories about what he did during the sinking.
For example, one story said he opened the ship's kennel and let all the dogs out, including his own. Another story claimed he put a woman's hat on a boy so the child could get into a lifeboat. There was even a legend that after the ship hit the iceberg, he joked, "I asked for ice, but this is ridiculous."
However, none of these stories were proven true. Most people who recognized him did not survive, except for the women who got into lifeboats early. Experts believe the ice joke is likely false because Astor was not known for making jokes. The stories about his actions were probably made up by reporters at the time. Another untrue legend was that Astor was crushed by one of the ship's falling funnels.
Portrayals in Film
Because of his fame, John Jacob Astor IV has often been shown in movies about the Titanic.
- In the 1943 German film Titanic, he was played by Karl Schönböck.
- William Johnstone played him in the 1953 film Titanic.
- In the famous 1997 movie Titanic, he was played by Eric Braeden.
- He was also played by Scott Hylands in the 1996 miniseries Titanic.
- David Janssen played him in the 1979 film S.O.S. Titanic.
- In the 2012 miniseries Titanic, he was played by Miles Richardson.
- In April 2012, his own great-grandson, Gregory Todd Astor, played him in "Titanic the Musical."
Images for kids
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John Jacob Astor IV in 1909
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John Jacob Astor IV dressed as Henry IV of France
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Astor and his second wife Madeleine Talmage Force
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Ferncliff, the Astor family's country estate in Rhinebeck, New York
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A gold Waltham pocket watch, similar to the one Astor wore on the RMS Titanic
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840 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, one of the Astor family homes.
See also
In Spanish: John Jacob Astor IV para niños
