This page, clockwise from above left: John Jacob Astor III; Charlotte Astor, as painted by Thomas Sully in 1860; John Jacob Astor IV, walking his dog, Kitty; John Jacob Astor III and William Backhouse Astor, Jr., were descendants of Robert Livingston the Elder; William Tweed, a.k.a. “Boss Tweed,” as photographed circa 1860; William Backhouse Astor, Sr., as a boy, from a miniature; a portrait of John Jacob Astor IV.
Manor and Livingston Manner) was comprised of 160,000 acres that had been granted to Robert Livingston the Elder by King George I of England in 1715. When William Backhouse Astor, Sr., died in 1875, he left an estate rumored to be worth $100 million (or five times the worth of his father’s estate, which had been $20 million). Most was divided between his two sons: William Backhouse Astor, Jr., and John Jacob Astor III (who was older than William by seven years). John was the eldest, which positioned him as head of the family business known the “Astor Estate.” He was regarded as having the head for business. Nevertheless, John was distinguished because of his fortune as well as—and especially for—his connections to the Livingstons. He was most interested in his own social position, which included living down his grandfather’s reputation for doing business with William “Boss” Tweed (the notorious head of Tammany Hall, the Democratic organi110 QUEST
zation). After his fall from political power, Tweed (who was believed to be the third-largest landowner in New York) was convicted of stealing as much as $200 million (or billions of dollars in today’s currency) from the city. Tweed died in jail. John had demonstrated his affinity for aristocracy by marrying well (his bride was from a very good family in Charleston, South Carolina). He also collected paintings by European artists, was well read, and by dressed the part. He and his wife, Charlotte Astor, were also active members of society, hosting dinners and dances. They summered at Beaulieu, their estate in Newport, Rhode Island. Charlotte is important to the story that tells of the rise of her sister-in-law, Lina, because she had no interest in the social frivolity that would become the hallmark of Lina in 19th-century New York society. Charlotte was interested in the philanthropic opportunities that her husband’s great fortune allowed, so she funded hospitals and organiza-
tions that helped the children of the poor as well as the prostitutes of the city. The marriage of William Backhouse Astor, Jr., and Caroline Schermerhorn produced five children in 10 years: four girls (Emily Astor, Helen Astor, Charlotte Astor, and Caroline “Carrie” Astor) and one boy (John Jacob Astor IV). Their son, known as Jack, would be the father of three children who were to become the most famous Astors of the beginning of the 20th century: William Vincent Astor (who was known as Vincent), Alice Astor, and John Jacob Astor VI (who was born after his father died in 1912, with the sinking of the Titanic). After the birth of Jack, William and Lina started to lead virtually separate lives. William, who wasn’t permitted to participate in the family business, would spend his time away from his wife. His devotion was to Ferncliff, his estate in Rhinebeck, New York, and to his yachts—first, the Ambassadress, and then, the much larger Nourmahal (which trans-