This biography analyzes Astor's rise from poor German immigrant in 1784 to the first modern millionaire--he was one before the term "millionaire" entered the English language. Many consider him to be the fourth wealthiest American of all times. After his death in 1848, the public began to discuss the "responsibility" of a millionaire. Some argued that he must have been greedy and cold. Some voices demanded that he should have given all his money back to the United States. More liberal thinkers praised him for his genius and vision.
This biography presents a balanced picture. Astor was the founder of the first American settlement on the Pacific (Astoria, Oregon) and of New York's fine hotels the Astor House and the Waldorf-Astoria, as well as a developer of the American West and a fur trader. Many American cities and sites are named after him. He donated the Astor Library to the city of New York (it became the first public library of the city), now part of the New York Public Library.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
1. Origins, 1763-1780
Family Background
Astor's Youth
The Decision to Leave Germany
2. Apprentice, 1780-1784
First Professional Steps
Crossing the Atlantic Ocean
3. Immigrant, 1784-1800
Arriving in New York
Following Native American Paths
Family and Social Network
4. Visionary, 1800-1815
Enter the China Trade
Real Estate on the Rise
Founding the American Fur Company
Astoria, Oregon
The War of 1812 and the Loss of Astoria
Astor and the Peace Treaty of Ghent
5. Global Player, 1815-1834
The Formation of the Second Bank of the United States
Business Genius
Returning to Europe
Trade on the Frontier
Retreat from Business
6. New Yorker, 1834-1848
The Astor House
Washington Irving's Astoria
Economic Crisis and Immigration Waves
Age and Death
Astor's Last Will-Founding a Dynasty
Astor's Public Image and Legacy
7. Astor Revisited-Afterthoughts
Notes
Bibliography
Index
