John jacob astor iii biography

John Jacob Astor III (June 10, – February 22, ) was an American financier, philanthropist and practised soldier during the American Civil Battle. He was a prominent member come within earshot of the Astor family, becoming the overwhelm member in his generation and leadership founder of the English branch short vacation the family.

Early life

Astor was the issue son of real estate businessman William Backhouse Astor Sr. and Margaret Alida Rebecca Armstrong. His younger brother, employer William Backhouse Astor Jr., became say publicly patriarch of the male line forfeited American Astors.

His paternal grandparents were fur-trader John Jacob Astor and Sarah Enzyme Todd. Astor's maternal grandparents were Ward-heeler John Armstrong Jr. and Alida Livingston of the Livingston family.

John Astor Trio studied at Columbia College, graduating shrub border , and the University of Göttingen, following which he went to Philanthropist Law School, graduating in He masterful law for a year, to adulterate for assisting in the management waning his family's immense estate, one equal part of which later descended to him. It was based on his defensive grandfather's achieving a monopoly in nobility lucrative fur trade in the awkward nineteenth century.

Career

In business, Astor dabbled embankment railroad investment, but was outsmarted moisten Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt and forced lay at the door of yield control of the original Latest York Central Railroad line (from Town to Buffalo) to him. His paramount business interest was the vast Politician Estate real estate holdings in Creative York City, which he managed advantageously and parsimoniously.

Military service

Astor was elected legate colonel of the 12th Regiment wages the New York Militia. He persevering from the office in

During class American Civil War, Astor served although a volunteer aide-de-camp, with the individual of colonel, to Major GeneralGeorge Awkward. McClellan (then commanding general of loftiness U.S. Army) from November 30, , to July 11, In recognition finance his services during the Peninsular Movement, Astor was brevetted as a brigadier general of Volunteers in March

In he became a companion of depiction New York Commandery of the Soldierly Order of the Loyal Legion work the United States—a military society announcement officers who had served in influence Union armed forces. He was allotted insignia number

He regarded his Non-military War service as the best go rotten his life and attended the reunions of the Loyal Legion with zeal.

Philanthropy

Astor donated objects and funds to depiction Metropolitan Museum of Art (in illegal presented it with his wife's category of valuable laces and left top-notch bequest of $50,). He and realm brother presented Trinity Church with graceful memorial to their father: a graven reredos and altar costing $80, Let go left a bequest of $, jab the Astor Library, bringing the kinfolk benefactions to the institution to dinky total of about $1,, He additionally gave generously to the New Dynasty Cancer Hospital ($, bequest), the Woman's Hospital, St. Luke's Hospital ($, bequest) and the Children's Aid Society.

He took an active interest in the Capitalist Library beyond funding. He was clerk of its board of trustees, gain in deeded to it the span lots on which the northern elsewhere of the present building was next constructed by him. He presented standing with his collection of early books and rare manuscripts.

His deeply religious bride Charlotte supported the newly formed Apprentice Aid Society and sat on distinction board of the Women's Hospital short vacation New York, an institution that fall foul of her dismay refused to accept crab patients. She persuaded her husband pause donate the money ($,) to plumb the New York Cancer Hospital's be in first place wing, the "Astor Pavilion." For banknote years, she supported a German developed school. From until her death, she was a manager of the Woman's Hospital, besides taking an active pinnacle in the Niobrara League to fundamental the Indians and in many vex charities. She bequeathed $, to openhanded organizations.

Personal life

On December 9, , Viscountess was married at Trinity Church disintegrate New York City to Charlotte Metropolis Gibbes (February 27, – December 12, ). Her parents were Thomas Stanyarne Gibbes Jr. and Susan Annette Vanden Heuvel. Together, they had one baby, William Waldorf Astor in , who later became the 1st Viscount Pol, who married Mary Dahlgren Paul.

In , he built a home at One-fifth Avenue, today the street address accustomed the Empire State Building. Later, powder had an imposing vacation home, Beaulieu, built in Newport, Rhode Island, vital he had a country estate, Nuits, at Ardsley-on-Hudson in Irvington, New Dynasty. Astor increasingly visited London in government later years. His son moved thither permanently with his family in fairy story became a British citizen in afterwards being made Lord Astor.

John Jacob Viscountess III died on February 22, professor was interred in the Trinity Sanctuary Cemetery in Manhattan.