Madeleine Astor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Madeleine Astor
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| Born |
Madeleine Talmage Force
June 19, 1893 Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
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| Died | March 27, 1940 (aged 46) Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
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| Resting place | Trinity Church Cemetery |
| Education | Miss Ely's School Miss Spence's School |
| Spouse(s) |
William Karl Dick
(m. 1916; div. 1933)Enzo Fiermonte
(m. 1933; div. 1938) |
| Children | John Jacob Astor VI William Force Dick John Henry Dick |
| Relatives | Katherine Emmons Force (sister) Tunis V. P. Talmage (grandfather) |
Madeleine Talmage Astor (born Madeleine Force; June 19, 1893 – March 27, 1940) was an American socialite. She became famous as a survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster. Madeleine was the second wife of businessman John Jacob Astor IV.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Madeleine Talmage Force was born on June 19, 1893. Her birthplace was Brooklyn, New York. She was the younger daughter of William Hurlbut Force and Katherine Arvilla Talmage. Madeleine had an older sister named Katherine Emmons Force. Her sister later became a successful real estate businesswoman.
Madeleine's father, William Force, came from a well-known business family. He owned a successful shipping company. Her mother's family had Dutch roots. Madeleine's maternal grandfather was New York State Assemblyman Tunis V. P. Talmage. Her great-grandfather, Thomas G. Talmage, was once the Mayor of Brooklyn.
Education and Interests
Madeleine went to Miss Ely's School. She then spent four years at Miss Spence's School in Manhattan. She was known as a very smart student there. Madeleine and her sister often traveled to Europe with their mother.
When she joined New York society, she became popular. She was part of the Junior League, a group for young women. Madeleine also acted in several New York society plays. She was a skilled horse rider and loved yachting. People described her as bright and good at conversation.
Meeting John Jacob Astor IV
Madeleine met Colonel John Jacob "Jack" Astor IV. He was a very wealthy businessman. He was the son of William Backhouse Astor, Jr. and Caroline Webster "Lina" Schermerhorn. During their time together, they often went on car rides and yacht trips. The newspapers frequently wrote about them.
They got engaged in August 1911. They married on September 9, 1911. Many people did not approve of their marriage. This was because of their big age difference. Madeleine was 18, and John was 47. Also, John had recently divorced his first wife. After some priests refused, they were married by a different minister. The wedding took place at Beechwood, John's mansion in Newport. His son, William Vincent Astor, was the best man.
After their wedding, they went on a long honeymoon. They first visited places nearby. In January 1912, they sailed from New York on the Olympic. This ship was the Titanic's sister ship. They enjoyed a long trip to Egypt. On their way back from their honeymoon, they booked their trip on the Titanic.
Aboard the Titanic
Madeleine Astor was five months pregnant when she boarded the Titanic. She was a first-class passenger. She boarded in Cherbourg, France. Her husband, his valet, her maid, and her nurse were with her. They also brought Kitty, Astor's pet Airedale dog. They stayed in one of the ship's fancy parlor suites.
On the night of April 14, 1912, the ship hit an iceberg. Colonel Astor told his wife about it. He tried to reassure her that the damage was not serious. Still, he helped her put on her life jacket. While waiting on the deck, Mrs. Astor lent her fur shawl to another passenger. This was to keep the passenger's son warm.
Later, the Astors went to the ship's gymnasium. They sat on the exercise machines while wearing their life jackets. Colonel Astor found another life jacket. He reportedly cut it with a knife to show Madeleine what was inside.
When it was time to get into a lifeboat, Madeleine Astor, her maid, and her nurse had to crawl through a window. This was to get into lifeboat 4. Colonel Astor helped his wife. He asked if he could go with her because she was pregnant. But Second Officer Charles Lightoller said no.
Colonel Astor and his valet died when the ship sank. His body was found on April 22. Madeleine and the other survivors were rescued by the RMS Carpathia. This happened around 3:30 AM.
After returning home, Madeleine Astor was kept away from public life. Her first social event was in late May. She hosted a lunch for Arthur Rostron, the captain of the Carpathia. She also invited Dr. Frank McGee, the ship's surgeon. She did this with Marian Thayer, another Titanic survivor. They wanted to thank these men for their help.
Life as a Widow
John Jacob Astor IV's will left his wife a sum of money. She also received income from a trust fund. She could also use their house on Fifth Avenue. However, she would lose these if she remarried. A separate fund was set aside for their unborn child.
On August 14, 1912, Madeleine gave birth to her son. His name was John Jacob "Jakey" Astor VI. She raised him in the Astor family home. She did not appear in public much until late 1913. At that time, newspapers published her first photograph since the Titanic disaster. After this, she was seen more often. Her activities were often reported in the news.
Later Marriages
Four years after Colonel Astor's death, Madeleine Astor remarried. She married her childhood friend, William Karl Dick. He was a banker. The wedding took place on June 22, 1916, in Bar Harbor, Maine. As stated in Colonel Astor's will, she lost her income from his trust fund.
Madeleine and William had two sons:
- William Force Dick (born 1917)
- John Henry Dick (born 1919), who became a famous ornithologist and artist.
They divorced on July 21, 1933. Four months later, Madeleine married Italian actor and boxer Enzo Fiermonte. They married on November 27, 1933, in New York City. They later moved to Palm Beach, Florida. They did not have any children together. They divorced on June 11, 1938.
Death
Madeleine Fiermonte passed away on March 27, 1940. She was 46 years old. She died from a heart problem at her home in Palm Beach. She was buried in Trinity Church Cemetery in New York City. Her mausoleum is shared with her mother.
See also
In Spanish: Madeleine Astor para niños
