The Astors: America’s First “Old Money” Family
161.7 هزار بار بازدید -
11 ماه پیش
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The year - 1848. The
The year - 1848.
The locale - New York City, humming with life - yet the Astor mansion stood in a cold contrast - its aura of regality offering a muted hush.
John Jacob Astor - his legendary family’s first magnate - lay on his bed, life flickering like a dying candle.
---------
How The Vanderbilts Went From "Old Money" To No Money: How The Vanderbilts Went From "Old Mo...
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How The World’s Richest Family Divides Their Wealth: How The World’s Richest Family Divide...
---------
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction
1:45 1. The Astor Family’s Early History and Rise to Wealth
6:07 2. The Astors Become American “Royalty”
10:02 3. The Astors Create “High Society”
16:31 4. The Modern Astors
---------
In the rural enclave of Walldorf - nestled near the regal city of Heidelberg, now part off contemporary Baden-Württemberg, Germany - a son was welcomed into the world in 1763.
The newborn - christened John Jacob Astor - was the youngest scion of Johann Jacob Astor - a humble butcher - and Maria Magdalena vom Berg.
At the tender age of 16, John Jacob departed his home for the bustling city of London - where he fell under the tutelage of his uncle in the art of crafting musical instruments.
Our lovely English capital - in its grandeur - not only provided Astor with proficiency in English, but also a robust apprenticeship in the realm of commerce.
Now, William Backhouse Astor, Senior - named after William Backhouse, his father's merchant friend - over the course of his life would prove his mettle as a competent associate in his father's prosperous export enterprise - all while carefully injecting capital into Manhattan's fertile soil of real estate.
Emboldened by his family’s already legendary business reputation, William amplified the empire's real estate portfolio - erecting over 700 stores and homes in the growing New York City.
His real estate ventures around Central Park yielded exponential growth for the family assets.
Understand, William - an astute operator himself - not merely preserved but managed to MULTIPLY the Astor family fortune.
His diligent endeavours led to even more prosperity for their lineage - his legacy culminating in a staggering estate valued at nearly $50 million.
It was as though Midas himself had passed his golden touch onto the next Astors - and they wielded this gift with expert precision.
Our tale now settles upon William Astor Junior - the bearing carrier of his forefather's illustrious American legacy.
Yet it was actually his wife - the imposing Caroline Schermerhorn - who would seize the reins of New York's elite - sculpting the bedrock of its high society.
Born to the privileged echelons of New York's Dutch aristocracy on September 22, 1830, Caroline - or Lina, as she was affectionately known - was a Schermerhorn, offspring of the city's earliest settlers.
Her father - Abraham Schermerhorn - had made his fortune in shipping and possessed a net worth of half a million dollars, a significant sum for the time, equivalent to $13.74 million today.
Helen Van Cortlandt, née White - of the prominent Schermerhorns - was her mother.
At the same time - on the “other side of the pond” - the Astor lineage grew nobler, cultivating its prestige through the illustrious titles of Viscount Astor and Baron Astor of Hever.
First, a wealthy American Astor by the name of William Waldorf Astor, took the bold step of transplanting himself to the British soils in 1891 - later adopting the mantle of British citizenry in 1899.
As a mark of his sterling contribution to the wartime charities, he was awarded a baronage in 1916, and elevated to a viscount a year later.
Thus was the birth of the “Viscount Astor” - granted by the Peerage of the United Kingdom on a cool summer day of June 28, 1917 - forever intertwining the Astors with the annals of British nobility.
In the mid-century year of 1956, another title was fashioned within the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
This was the title of Baron Astor of Hever - awarded to the influential newspaper baron and Conservative politician - another John Jacob Astor - the fourth offspring of William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor.
In today's world, certain Astor descendants - such as William Astor, 4th Viscount Astor, persist in wielding their influence - notably in the British House of Lords.
One poignant symbol of this decline is the family's 420-acre estate - now wearing the signs of neglect due to insufficient maintenance funds.
Thus, the Astor name - once synonymous with America's affluent uppermost echelons - has faced a gradual diminution in its prestige.
While their mark on New York City's panorama and the American milieu remains indelible - their once-venerated status has taken a quiet retreat.
Institutions like the modern St. Regis Hotel and The Astor - alongside various other landmarks - indeed echo their erstwhile glory.
The locale - New York City, humming with life - yet the Astor mansion stood in a cold contrast - its aura of regality offering a muted hush.
John Jacob Astor - his legendary family’s first magnate - lay on his bed, life flickering like a dying candle.
---------
How The Vanderbilts Went From "Old Money" To No Money: How The Vanderbilts Went From "Old Mo...
---------
How The World’s Richest Family Divides Their Wealth: How The World’s Richest Family Divide...
---------
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction
1:45 1. The Astor Family’s Early History and Rise to Wealth
6:07 2. The Astors Become American “Royalty”
10:02 3. The Astors Create “High Society”
16:31 4. The Modern Astors
---------
In the rural enclave of Walldorf - nestled near the regal city of Heidelberg, now part off contemporary Baden-Württemberg, Germany - a son was welcomed into the world in 1763.
The newborn - christened John Jacob Astor - was the youngest scion of Johann Jacob Astor - a humble butcher - and Maria Magdalena vom Berg.
At the tender age of 16, John Jacob departed his home for the bustling city of London - where he fell under the tutelage of his uncle in the art of crafting musical instruments.
Our lovely English capital - in its grandeur - not only provided Astor with proficiency in English, but also a robust apprenticeship in the realm of commerce.
Now, William Backhouse Astor, Senior - named after William Backhouse, his father's merchant friend - over the course of his life would prove his mettle as a competent associate in his father's prosperous export enterprise - all while carefully injecting capital into Manhattan's fertile soil of real estate.
Emboldened by his family’s already legendary business reputation, William amplified the empire's real estate portfolio - erecting over 700 stores and homes in the growing New York City.
His real estate ventures around Central Park yielded exponential growth for the family assets.
Understand, William - an astute operator himself - not merely preserved but managed to MULTIPLY the Astor family fortune.
His diligent endeavours led to even more prosperity for their lineage - his legacy culminating in a staggering estate valued at nearly $50 million.
It was as though Midas himself had passed his golden touch onto the next Astors - and they wielded this gift with expert precision.
Our tale now settles upon William Astor Junior - the bearing carrier of his forefather's illustrious American legacy.
Yet it was actually his wife - the imposing Caroline Schermerhorn - who would seize the reins of New York's elite - sculpting the bedrock of its high society.
Born to the privileged echelons of New York's Dutch aristocracy on September 22, 1830, Caroline - or Lina, as she was affectionately known - was a Schermerhorn, offspring of the city's earliest settlers.
Her father - Abraham Schermerhorn - had made his fortune in shipping and possessed a net worth of half a million dollars, a significant sum for the time, equivalent to $13.74 million today.
Helen Van Cortlandt, née White - of the prominent Schermerhorns - was her mother.
At the same time - on the “other side of the pond” - the Astor lineage grew nobler, cultivating its prestige through the illustrious titles of Viscount Astor and Baron Astor of Hever.
First, a wealthy American Astor by the name of William Waldorf Astor, took the bold step of transplanting himself to the British soils in 1891 - later adopting the mantle of British citizenry in 1899.
As a mark of his sterling contribution to the wartime charities, he was awarded a baronage in 1916, and elevated to a viscount a year later.
Thus was the birth of the “Viscount Astor” - granted by the Peerage of the United Kingdom on a cool summer day of June 28, 1917 - forever intertwining the Astors with the annals of British nobility.
In the mid-century year of 1956, another title was fashioned within the Peerage of the United Kingdom.
This was the title of Baron Astor of Hever - awarded to the influential newspaper baron and Conservative politician - another John Jacob Astor - the fourth offspring of William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor.
In today's world, certain Astor descendants - such as William Astor, 4th Viscount Astor, persist in wielding their influence - notably in the British House of Lords.
One poignant symbol of this decline is the family's 420-acre estate - now wearing the signs of neglect due to insufficient maintenance funds.
Thus, the Astor name - once synonymous with America's affluent uppermost echelons - has faced a gradual diminution in its prestige.
While their mark on New York City's panorama and the American milieu remains indelible - their once-venerated status has taken a quiet retreat.
Institutions like the modern St. Regis Hotel and The Astor - alongside various other landmarks - indeed echo their erstwhile glory.
11 ماه پیش
در تاریخ 1402/06/01 منتشر شده
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