HBRRINGSHAW'S LIBRARY OF AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.
164
rank of rear admiral in the United States navy.
He
died in 1904. Astor, Mrs. Charlotte Augusta, philanthropist, was born Feb. 37, 1825, in New York City. She was married to Mr. Astor in 1846. Mrs. Astor was an active friend of the children's aid society; and gave two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars to found the Cancer hospital. For twenty years she supported a German industrial school; and in 1872-87 was manager of the Woman's hos-
She bequeathed one hundred and fifty thousand dollars to charitable organizations. She died Dec. 12, 1887, in New York City. Astor, John Jacob, merchant, capitalist, founder, was born July 17, 1763, in Germany. Hia occupation was the purchase of furs from the Indian tribes and the shipment of them to Europe. His greatest venture was the founding of Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia river in 1809. He planted there a. fort and a settlement, in person; won the friendship of the Indian tribes; and during his four years of control carried on a large trade. He also founded the Astor library of New York City by his bequest of four hundred thousand dollars. At an early period it became necessary for him to employ ships of pital.
own in exporting furs to Europe. The return of these vessels laden with merchandise led him into an extensive foreign trade. He gradually acquired a large fleet; and his ships ploughed every ocean of the globe and carried cargoes both to and from England, Germany, France, Russia, China and America, the cargoes usually being purchased and sold on Mr. Astor's account. He died March his
29, 1848, in
New York
City.
Astor, John Jacob, third of the name, soldier, capitalist, philanthropist, was born June 10, 1822, in New York City; and was a son of William B. Astor. At the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted as a volunteer; served with credit on the staff of General McClellan; and attained the rank of brigadier-general. After the civil war he remained in business with his father. After his father's death in 1875, he increased his inheritance by continuing the purchase and improvement of real estate. At his death he was the largest owner of real estate in New York City, aside from the Trinity church corporation. His estate was estimated at nearly one hundred million dollars, the bulk of it going to his son, William Waldorf Astor, now the head of the family. He gave legacies of four hundred thousand dollars to the Astor library; one hundred thousand dollars each to St. Luke's and the Cancer hospitals; and other suras to kindred public objects. He died Feb. 22, 1890, in New York City. Astor, John Jacob, fourth of the name, capitalist, was born July 13, 1864, at Ferncliff, N.Y.; and is a son of William Astor. The influence of his name has been sought by financial institutions; and he is a director in
the National park bank, the Title guarantee
and trust company, the Mercantile trust company, the Illinois central railway, the Second national bank and the Plaza bank. Already the possessor of many buildings in New York City, his civic pride, energy and business sagacity combined promise to place upon the island of Manhattan several splendid buildings during the long business career which is before him. He is fond of the study of science and philosophy; and he has writJourney in Other ten a book entitled Worlds, a Romance of the Future, which was
A
superbly illustrated. During the SpanishAmerican war he presented to the United States government a mountain battery for use in the war against Spain at a cost of one hundred thousand dollars. Astor, William, capitalist, was born July 12, 1829, in New York City; and is a son of William B. Astor. In 1875 a visit to Florida awoke his interest in the vast undeveloped resources of that state; and it is believed that his enterprise during the next ten years accomplished more for Florida than that of any of his contemporaries. He built a railroad from St. Augustine to Palatka, constructed several modern blocks of buildings in Jacksonville, and led other men of means to join in the work of recreating a new Florida in place of the old one. His services were so valuable that the state government voted him a grant of eighty thousand acres of land. He died April 26, 1892, in Paris, France. Astor, William Backhouse, merchant, philanthropist, was born Sept. 19, 1792, in New York City. Upon his father's death he became the sole heir of an immense estate. Thereafter he devoted himself to the pT'eservation and growth of his property. He was a progressive man and one of the most active builders of his generation. It was said in 1867 that he had inherited and built seven hundred and twenty dwellings and stores in New York City. He also promoted important railroad and insurance enterprises. He added two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to the endowment of the Astor library; and made a total of five hundred and fifty thousand dollars in gifts to that institution. His estate was divided mainly and equally be-
tween
his sons,
John Jacob and William As-
He
died Nov. 24, 1875, in New York City. Astor, William Waldorf, millionaire, diplomat, author, was born March 31, 1848, in tor.
New York
City. He was chiefly educated by home and in Europe; and in 1875 graduated from Columbia college law school. He was a representative in
private tutors at his
the
New York
state legislature in 1878;
was
a state senator in 1880; and was envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States to Italy in 1882-85. He removed to England in 1890 and became the proprietor of the Pall Mall Gazette of London. He is the author of Valentino, a Story of Rome; and Sforza, an Historical Romance of the Sixteenth Century in Italy.
