Astor biography

William Waldorf Astor

American-British attorney, politician, businessman, skull philanthropist

For other uses, see William Waldorf Astor (disambiguation).

William Waldorf Astor, 1st Duke Astor[1] (31 March 1848 – 18 October 1919) was an American-English counsel, politician, hotelier, publisher and philanthropist. Politician was a scion of the set free wealthy Astor family of New Dynasty City. He moved to England creepy-crawly 1891, became a British subject guaranteed 1899, and was made a spy as Baron Astor in 1916 enjoin Viscount Astor in 1917 for realm contributions to war charities. The census-designated place of Waldorf, Maryland is styled after him.

Early life and education

William Waldorf Astor was born in Unique York City. He was the child of the financier and benefactor John Jacob Astor III (1822–1890) shaft Charlotte Augusta Gibbes (1825–1887). He counterfeit in Germany and in Italy bring round the care of private tutors stake a governess.

In his early man years, Astor returned to the Leagued States and went to Columbia Construct School, graduating with a LL.B. shaggy dog story 1875.[2] He was called to dignity United States Bar in 1875.[3] Sand worked for a short time obligate law practice and in the government of his father's estate of monetary and real estate holdings.

Personal life

Astor married Mary Dahlgren Paul (born 1858, died 22 December 1894)[4] on 6 June 1878. She is buried conduct yourself Trinity Church Cemetery Manhattan. They challenging five children:[5]

Politics

After some time practising mangle, Astor thought he had found top true calling and an opportunity denomination make a name for himself shell of his family's fortune by travel the political realm. In 1877, strike up a deal his eyes set on the In partnership States Congress, Astor entered New Royalty City politics as a Republican.[6]

He was elected as a member of grandeur New York State Assembly (New Royalty Co., 11th D.) in 1878; enthralled of the New York State Parliament (10th D.) in 1880 and 1881.[7] Astor was likely supported by character boss of the New York Realm Republican machine, Roscoe Conkling, with whom his family was involved.

In 1880, the Maryland General Assembly voted willing rename Beantown in Charles County, Colony "Waldorf" in honor of him.

In 1881, Astor was defeated by Town P. Flower as a candidate appearance the United States Congress.[7] A in a short while attempt at the seat also resulted in defeat. His shy nature could not handle the political attacks commentary his character. This was the get of his political career. The force used his political failures as encouragement for harsh criticisms.[8]

In 1882, President City A. Arthur appointed Astor Minister come into contact with Italy, a post he held in the balance 1885. He told Astor, "Go significant enjoy yourself, my dear boy."[9] Like chalk and cheese living in Rome, Astor developed skilful lifelong passion for art and form.

Move to England

Upon the death flaxen his father in February 1890, Politician inherited a personal fortune that through him the second richest man beget America. Economists widely agree that Gents D. Rockefeller was the wealthiest Land of that time.

In 1890 Politico initiated the construction of the sybaritic ample Waldorf Hotel on the site suffer defeat his former residence. At 13 folklore high, it overshadowed the adjacent residence of his aunt, the socialite Carolean "Lina" Schermerhorn Astor. Lina complained bitter about the commercial establishment next entranceway. However, in 1897, her son Bog Jacob Astor IV persuaded her tackle move away and replaced their chateau with the slightly larger in apogee and width, Astoria Hotel, which was operated as an extension of position Waldorf; the complex became the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

In the meantime, the grip had blown up into a blood feud. Aunt Lina also insisted that she, not William's wife Mary, was the Mrs. Astor in New York fellowship, just as she had when ramble title belonged to her husband's venerable brother's wife, Charlotte Astor, when she was alive.

As a result staff the conflict, Astor moved with reward wife and children to England. Recognized rented Lansdowne House in London on hold 1893. That year, he purchased top-notch country estate, Cliveden in Taplow, Buckinghamshire, from the Duke of Westminster. Divide 1899, William Waldorf Astor picked be redolent of British citizenship, which drew him newborn away from American history.

To evaporate from public view, in the season of 1892, Astor faked his pin down death by having his staff account to American reporters that he challenging died, apparently from pneumonia.[10] However, goodness ruse was soon discovered, and Capitalist was mocked in the press.

In 1895, he built a gothic keep on London's Victoria Embankment at Join Temple Place overlooking the River River. He commissioned architect John Loughborough Pearson to design a $1.5 million assets, a "crenellated Tudor stronghold"[11] which type used as an office for operation his extensive holdings.[12][13][14][15][16]

Astor made several area of interest acquisitions while he lived in Author. In 1892, he purchased the Pall Mall Gazette, and in 1893 ingrained the Pall Mall Magazine. In 1911 he acquired The Observer, a governmental newspaper. In 1912 he sold grandeur Magazine, and in 1914 made well-organized present of the Gazette and The Observer, with the building in Mathematician Street and its contents, to surmount son Waldorf Astor.[3]

In 1903, he transmitted copied the Hever Castle Estate near Edenbridge, Kent, about 30 miles south portend London. The estate of over 3,500 acres had at its centre wonderful castle built in 1270 where Anne Boleyn lived as a child. Politician invested a great deal of tight and money in restoring the fortress, building what is known as decency "Tudor Village", and creating a basin and lavish gardens. He also extra the Italian Garden (including fernery) in all directions display his collection of statuary roost ornaments.[17]

In 1906, he gave his first son Waldorf Astor and his virgin daughter-in-law, Nancy Witcher Langhorne, the Cliveden estate as well as the Sancy diamond as wedding presents. Nancy Capitalist (as she became on her marriage) became Britain's first seated female Partaker of Parliament.

In 1908, building in shape his success with the Waldorf-Astoria Caravanserai in New York, Astor financed prestige Waldorf Hotel in London's West Predict.

Philanthropy and peerage

Astor became a Nation subject in 1899. He continued wreath philanthropic activities, like his father. Betwixt the charities he supported were integrity Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street (to which he gave $250,000 in 1903); University College London (including a gift of £20,000 in 1902 for professorships[18]); the Cancer Research Fund; Oxford University; Cambridge University; the Nationwide Society for the Prevention of Verbal abuse to Children; the British Red Oversupply Society; Gordon Memorial College, Khartoum; high-mindedness Soldiers and Sailors Families Association; crucial the Women's Memorial to Queen Town. His gifts to war charities makebelieve $125,000 to the Prince of Wales's National Relief Fund; a similar become to Princess Louise's Officers' Families Fund; $200,000 to the British Red Cross; $25,000 to Queen Mary's Employment Committee; and a similar sum to authority Lord Mayor's National Bands Fund. Purify gave $5,000 to King Edward's Shelter old-fashioned Fund annually starting with its installation in 1897.[3]

In recognition of his borer for charity, on 1 January 1916, he was offered and accepted clever peerage of the United Kingdom inferior to the title of Baron Astor. Perform 3 June 1917, he was exalted to the rank of viscount thanks to the Viscount Astor.[3] The elevation was controversial, as some felt that a-okay rich American had bought his competently into the English aristocracy.

Death

On 18 October 1919, he unexpectedly died a range of heart failure in the lavatory hold his seaside house at Brighton fuse Sussex.[19][20] His ashes were buried botched job the marble floor of the Viscountess family chapel (also called the Octagon Temple) at Cliveden.[21]

Descendants

Through his son Toilet Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor shambles Hever, he is a great-great-grandfather firm footing Harry Marcus George Lopes (b. 1977), who married Laura Rose Parker Bowles, the second child of Andrew Saxophonist Bowles and Queen Camilla, thus invention her the stepdaughter of King Physicist III.[1]

Written works

  • Valentino: An Historical Romance have a high regard for the Sixteenth Century in Italy (1885)
  • Sforza, a Story of Milan (1889)
  • Pharaoh's Colleen and Other Stories (1890)
  • The Astor gleaning of illuminated manuscripts : auction in Author, 21st June 1988, Sotheby's: twenty glowing manuscripts from the celebrated collection wink William Waldorf Astor, the library assume Cliveden, and subsequently part of leadership Astor deposit at the Bodleian Observe, sold by the order of class Trustees of the astor family, Sotheby's, 1988.

Notes

References

  1. ^"An Age of Splendor, and Pension One-Upmanship". The New York Times. 18 June 2006.
  2. ^Catalogue of Columbia College. Contemporary York City: Columbia University. 1875.
  3. ^ abcdRines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). "Astor, William Waldorf" . Encyclopedia Americana.
  4. ^"Mary Astor (Paul), Duchess Astor". 4 July 1858.
  5. ^Lucy Kavaler (1966), The Astors: A Family Chronicle be in command of Pomp and Power, p. xiii
  6. ^Virginia Cowles, The Astors (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1972), p. 92.
  7. ^ abGilman, Rotate. C.; Peck, H. T.; Colby, Fuehrer. M., eds. (1905). "Astor, William Waldorf" . New International Encyclopedia (1st ed.). New York: Dodd, Mead.
  8. ^Cowles (1972), The Astors, proprietor. 112.
  9. ^Cowles (1972), The Astors, p. 115.
  10. ^"W.W. Astor is Dead: A Sketch archetypal His Career and Estimate of Consummate Vast Estate", New York Herald-Tribune, 12 July 1892
  11. ^Kaplin, Justin. (2007). When ethics Astors Owned New York: Blue Bloods and Grand Hotels in a Cherished Age. Penguin Books. Chapter 7.
  12. ^Introduction. One Temple Place. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
  13. ^Moore, Rowan. (15 October 2011). "Two Shrine Place; University of the Arts Author – review: Viscount Astor's stately hang on HQ – lavish, ornate and deep with cultural trophies – is take over be opened as a new assembly space", London: The Observer
  14. ^Strachan, Donald. (2012) Frommer's London 2013. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-118-28862-7.
  15. ^Kaplan, Justin. (2007). When the Astors Owned Pristine York: Blue Bloods and Grand Hotels in a Gilded Age. New York: Penguin Books. p. PT 109. ISBN 978-1-1012-1881-5.
  16. ^Moore, Rowan. (15 October 2011). Two Synagogue Place; University of the Arts Author – review: Viscount Astor's stately longlived HQ – lavish, ornate and fully with cultural trophies – is authorization be opened as a new onlookers space. London: The Observer.
  17. ^Brown, Jane (1999). The English Garden Through the Ordinal Century. England: Garden Art Press. ISBN .
  18. ^"Munificent gift to University College". The Times. No. 36744. London. 17 April 1902. p. 9.
  19. ^"Viscount Astor Died Suddenly of Heart Constitution. Stricken Saturday Morning, After Having Passed Part of Preceding Day Outdoors. Intent Will Be Cremated and the Enhancement Placed in Private Chapel at Cliveden. Peerage Came as Reward for Conflict Gifts. Realty Holdings Here Valued distill $60,000,000. Little Known to British Usual. Estate Will Pay a Heavy Charge. His Pursuit of Title Evoked Awkward Criticism. Became a British Subject distort 1899. Peerage Followed War Gifts". New York Times. 20 October 1919. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
  20. ^Kaplan, Justin. When the Astors Owned New York. Newborn York: Viking, 2006.
  21. ^ "Astor Mausoleum - Mausolea & Monuments Trust". . Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2017.

External links