Astor family

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For other uses, see Astor.
Astor
Ethnicity Anglo-Saxon / German
Current region American East Coast
Information
Place of origin Germany
Notable members John Jacob Astor,
William Backhouse Astor, Sr.,
John Jacob Astor III,
William Backhouse Astor, Jr.
Caroline Webster Schermerhorn
John Jacob Astor IV
Connected families Livingston family
Roosevelt family
Van Alen family
Distinctions America's first aristocrats
Heirlooms Astor Family Portrait, $1.5 million Astor Diamond
Estate Ferncliff (Astor Courts),
Cliveden
Beechwood
840 Fifth Avenue
Beaulieu

The Astor family is a prominent German American family notable for its importance in business, society and politics in the United States and the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th century. The surname "Astor" is of German origin, appearing in North America during the eighteenth century with John Jacob Astor.

Contents

Founding family members[edit]

John Jacob Astor (born Johann Jakob Astor) was a son of Johann Jacob Astor and Maria Magdalena Vorfelder. John and his brother George (b. Walldorf/Heidelberg April 28, 1752; d. London December 1813), known as 'George & John Astor', were flute makers, who came to England c. 1778 from Walldorf, Germany. In 1783, John Jacob left for Baltimore, Maryland, and was active first as a dealer in woodwind instruments, then in New York as a merchant in furs, pianos and real estate. After moving to New York, Astor met and married Sarah Todd.[1]

Another brother, Henry Astor also emigrated to America. He was a horse racing enthusiast, and purchased a thoroughbred named Messenger, who had been brought from England to America in 1788. The horse became the founding sire of all Standardbred horses in the United States today.

During the 19th century, the Astors became one of the wealthiest families in the United States. Toward the end of that century, some of the family moved to Britain and achieved great prominence there. During the 20th century, the number of American Astors began to decline, but their legacy lives on in their many public works including the New York Public Library. British descendants of the Astors hold two hereditary peerages: Viscount Astor and Baron Astor of Hever.

Family namesake places[edit]

For many years, the members of the Astor family were known as “the landlords of New York”.[2] Their New York City namesakes are the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, an Astor Row, Astor Court, Astor Place, and Astor Avenue in the Bronx, where the Astors used to stable horses. The neighborhood of Astoria, Queens, is named after the family as well.

Beyond New York City, the Astor family name is imprinted in a great deal of United States history and geography. There are towns of Astor in the states of Florida, Georgia, Iowa, and Kansas and there are Astorias in Illinois, Missouri and Oregon. There is an Astor Park in Wisconsin.

The Astors were also prominent on Mackinac Island, Michigan and Newport, Rhode Island with their summer house, Beechwood. At Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, there are the Lord and Lady Astor Suites; the hotel salon is called Astor's.

Bloodline[edit]

Listed by ancestry/generation:

John Jacob Astor, Sr. (1763–1848), fur trader, married Sarah Todd, daughter of Adam Todd and Sarah Cox.

  1. Magdalena Astor (1788–1832), married 1st 1807, Adrian Bentzon; married 2nd 1820, John Bristed (1778–1855)
    1. John Jacob Astor Bentzon (1818–?)
    2. Sarah Bentzon
    3. Charles Astor Bristed (1820–1874)
  2. Sarah Astor (1790-1790), died in infancy
  3. John Jacob Astor, Jr. (1791–1869), mentally feeble, never married or had children.
  4. William Backhouse Astor, Sr. (1792–1875), businessman, married Margaret Rebecca Armstrong (1800–1872), the daughter of United States Secretary of War and Senator John Armstrong, Jr. and Alida Livingston.
    1. Emily Astor (1819–1841), married Samuel Cutler "Sam" Ward (1814–1884), financier, lobbyist, author, son of Samuel Ward III and Julia Rush Cutler.
      1. Margaret Astor Ward (1838–1875), married 1856 John Winthrop Chanler (1826–1877), New York Congressman, son of John White Chanler and Elizabeth Shirreff Winthrop. John and Margaret's children are collectively referred to as the Astor Orphans.[3]
        1. John Armstrong "Archie" Chanler (1862–1935) married and later divorced Amélie Louise Rives
        2. Winthrop Astor Chanler (1863–1926)
        3. Emily Astor Chanler (1864–1872),
        4. Elizabeth Astor Winthrop Chanler (1866–1937), married John Jay Chapman
        5. William Astor Chanler, Sr. (1867–1934), United States Congressman
          1. William Astor Chanler, Jr. (1904–2002)
          2. Sidney Ashley Chanler (1907–1994) married in 1934 Princess Maria Antonia of Braganza (1903–1973), daughter of Miguel, Duke of Braganza and Princess Elisabeth of Thurn and Taxis
        6. Marion Ward Chanler (1868–1883), died of a surfeit of Turkish Delight
        7. Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler, Sr. (1869–1942), New York Congressman, m. 1st 1890 (div) Alice Chamberlain (1868–1955), m. 2nd 1921 Julia Lynch Olin (1882–1961)
          1. Lewis Stuyvesant Chanler Jr. (1891–1963), m. 1st around 1920 Leslie Murray, m. 2nd after 1940 Mary Kroehle
            1. Susan Chanler (1921–1996)
            2. Bronson Winthrop Chanler (1922–2009)
            3. Clare Chanler (1927–1992)
            4. Rosanna Chanler (1930)
          2. Alida Chanler (1894–1983)
          3. William Chamberlain Chanler (1895–1981)
        8. Margaret Livingston Chanler (1870–1963)
        9. Robert Winthrop Chanler (1872–1930), artist
        10. Alida Beekman Chanler (1873–1969)
      2. Unknown son (1841-1841), died in infancy
    2. John Jacob Astor III (1822–1890), financer, married Charlotte Augusta Gibbs (1825–1887) in 1846
      1. William Waldorf Astor I (1848–1919)
        1. Waldorf Astor (1879–1952), the Conservative Party MP for Plymouth Sutton married Nancy Witcher Langhorne who followed him as MP for the constituency.
          1. William Waldorf "Bill" Astor II (1907–1966) - Conservative Party MP for Wycombe
            1. William Waldorf Astor III (from 1st marriage) (born 1951) m. Annabel Lucy Veronica Jones
              1. William Waldorf "Will" Astor IV (1979) m. Lohralee Stutz
                1. William Waldorf Astor V (2012)
            2. Emily Astor (from 2nd marriage)
            3. Janet Elizabeth Astor (born 1961) (from 3rd marriage)
            4. Pauline Marian Astor (from 3rd marriage)
          2. Nancy Phyllis Louise Astor (1909—1975), m. Gilbert James Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby
            1. Nancy Jane Marie Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby (born 1934)
            2. Timothy Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby (1936—1963)
          3. Francis David Langhorne Astor (1912—2001), 1st m. 1945 Melanie Hauser, 2nd m. 1952 Bridget Aphra Wreford
            1. Frances Christine Langhorne Astor (b. 1947) daughter from 1st marriage
              1. Gavin Frankel
              2. Conrad Frankel
              3. Patrick Frankel
            2. Alice Margaret Frances Astor (b. 1953), daughter from 2nd marriage
              1. William Woodward
              2. Jessica Woodward
                1. Myla Lenkiewicz
                2. Obi Lenkiewicz
            3. Richard David Langhorne Astor (b. 1955), son from 2nd marriage
              1. Bonny Astor
              2. Alfred Astor
            4. Lucy Aphra Nancy Astor (b. 1958), daughter from 2nd marriage
              1. Leonard Pulsford
              2. Ramona Pulsford
            5. Nancy Bridget Elizabeth Astor (b. 1960), daughter form 2nd marriage
              1. Cara Naidoo
              2. James Naidoo
              3. Pamela Naidoo
            6. Thomas Robert Langhorne Astor (b. 1962), son from 2nd marriage
              1. Mary Astor
              2. Cecilia Astor
          4. Michael Langhorne Astor (1916–1980) - Conservative Party MP for East Surrey
            1. Polly Astor
              1. Martha West
          5. John Jacob "Jakie" Astor VII (1918–2000) - Conservative Party MP for Plymouth Sutton
            1. Michael Ramon Langhorne Astor (born 1946)
            2. Stella Astor (born 1949)
            3. John William Astor (1962-1963)
        2. Pauline Astor (1880–1972)
        3. John Rudolph Astor (1881–1881)
        4. John Jacob Astor V (1886–1971) - Conservative Party MP for Dover
          1. Gavin Astor (1918–1984) - Lord Lieutenant of Kent
            1. John Jacob Astor VIII (born 1946) - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence
              1. Camilla Astor (born 1974), daughter by Fiona Diana Lennox Harvey
              2. Tania Jentie Astor (born 1978), daughter by Fiona Diana Lennox Harvey
              3. Violet Magdalene Astor (born 1980), daughter by Fiona Diana Lennox Harvey
              4. Charles Gavin John Astor (born 1990), son by Elizabeth Constance Mackintosh
              5. Olivia Alexandra Elizabeth Astor (born 1992), daughter by Elizabeth Constance Mackintosh
            2. Bridget Mary Astor (born 1948)
            3. Elizabeth Louise Astor (born 1951)
            4. Sarah Violet Astor (born 1953) m. George Lopes
              1. Harry Lopes (born 1977), m. Laura Rose Parker Bowles (born 1978), daughter of Andrew Henry Parker Bowles and Camilla Rosemary Shand
                1. Eliza Lopes (born 2008)
                2. Gus Lopes (born 2009) [twin]
                3. Louis Lopes (born 2009 [twin]
            5. Philip Douglas Paul Astor (born 1959)
          2. Hugh Waldorf Astor (1920–1999)
          3. John Astor (1923–1987) - Conservative Party MP for Newbury
    3. Laura Eugenia Astor (1824–1902), married Franklin Hughes Delano (1813–1893) on September 17, 1844, uncle of Sara Ann Delano and great-uncle of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt [4]
    4. Mary Alida Astor (1826–1881), married John Carey (1821–1881)
      1. Margaret Laura Carey (1853–1911) (4 children from 1st, 1 son from 2nd marriage), married 1st 1875 (divorced) Alphonse Lambert Eugène, Ridder de Stuers (1841–1919), married 2nd 1880 Count William Eliot Morris Zborowski (1858–1903)
        1. Louis Zborowski, who was killed at the Italian Grand Prix in 1924.
      2. Arthur Astor Carey (1857–1923), married Agnes Whiteside (4 children)
      3. Henry Reginald Astor Carey (1865–1893) (no issue)
    5. William Backhouse Astor, Jr. (1829–1892), businessman, married Caroline Webster Schermerhorn, daughter of Abraham Schermerhorn and Helen White.
      1. Emily Astor (1854–1881), married James John Van Alen (1848–1923)
        1. Mary Van Alen (1876-1959), married Griswold A. Thompson (1875-1945) (no issue)
        2. James Laurens Van Alen (1878–1927), married 1910, Margaret Louise Post (1876–1969)
          1. James Henry "Jimmy" Van Alen II (1902–1991), founder of Int'l Tennis Hall of Fame, inventor of tie-breaker in tennis
          2. William Laurens Van Alen (1907–2003), founding president of the United States Court Tennis Association, married 1931, Elizabeth Brinton Kent, daughter of Arthur Atwater Kent
          3. Louise Astor Van Alen (1910–1997), married 1st 1931 (div 1932), Alexei Mdivani (1905–1936); married 2nd 1936, Sergei Mdivani (1903–1936); married 3rd 1947, Alexander Saunderson (1917–2004)
        3. Sarah Steward Van Alen (1881-1963), m. 1902 Robert Joseph Collier (1876-1918) (no children)
      2. Helen Schermerhorn Astor (1855–1893) m. James Roosevelt "Rosey" Roosevelt, Sr.
        1. James Roosevelt "Tadd" Roosevelt, Jr. (1879–1958)
        2. Helen Rebecca Roosevelt(1881–1962) m. Theodore Douglas Robinson (1883–1934)
      3. Charlotte Augusta Astor (1858–1920) m. 1st 1879 (divorced 1896) James Coleman Drayton, married 2nd 1896 George Ogilvy Haig
        1. Caroline Astor Drayton (1880-1965), m. 1910 William Phillips (1878-1968) [U.S. Ambassador] (4 children)
        2. Henry Coleman Drayton (1883-1942), 1st m. 1905 Mary Constance Knower, 2nd m. 1922 (divorced 1928) Catherine Livingston Hamersley
        3. William Astor Drayton (1888-1973), m. 1912 Helen Fargo Squiers (2 children)
        4. Alida Livingston Drayton (1890-1898)
      4. Caroline Schermerhorn Astor (1861–1948) m. 1884 Marshall Orme Wilson, Sr. (1861-1926)
        1. Marshall Orme Wilson, Jr. (1885-1966), m. Alice Borland (1887-1987) (1 son)
        2. Richard Thornton Wilson III (1886-1977) (no issue)
      5. John Jacob Astor IV (1864–1912), died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic
        1. William Vincent Astor (1891–1959), son by Ava Lowle Willing
        2. Ava Alice Muriel Astor (1902–1956), daughter by Ava Lowle Willing
          1. Ivan Sergeyevich Obolensky (born 1925), son by Sergei Platonovich "Serge" Obolensky
            1. Marina Ivanovna Knyazhna Obolensky (born 1951), daughter by Claire Elizabeth McGinnis
            2. Ivan Ivanovich Knyaz Obolensky (born 1952), son by Claire Elizabeth McGinnis
            3. David Ivanovich Knyaz Obolensky (born 1953), son by Claire Elizabeth McGinnis, m. Mary Catherine Hicks (born 1952)
              1. Natalya Elizabeth Davidovna Knyaginya Obolensky (born 1984)
              2. Octavia Willing Davidovna Knyaginya Obolensky (born 1989)
            4. Sergei Ivanovich Knyaz Obolensky, son by Mary Elizabeth Morris
          2. Sylvia Sergeievna Knyaginya Obolensky (1931-1997), daughter by Sergei Platonovich "Serge" Obolensky
          3. Romana von Hofmannsthal, daughter by Raimund Hoffmann, Edler von Hofmannsthal
          4. Emily Edwina Harding (born 1942), daughter by Philip Harding
        3. John Jacob "Jakey" Astor VI (1912–1992), son by Madeleine Talmage Force
          1. William Backhouse "Bill" Astor III (1935—2008), son by Ellen Tuck French, m. Charlotte Ann Fisk (1936-2008)
            1. William Backhouse Astor IV (born 1959)
            2. Gregory Todd Astor (born 1966) m. Robin Rhodes
              1. Alexandra Ellen Astor
              2. Rebecca Charlotte Astor
              3. Stephen William Astor
          2. Mary Jacqueline Astor, daughter by Gertrude Gretsch, m. John Nicholas Drexel (born 1945)
            1. Nicholas Astor Drexel (born 1987)
    6. Henry Astor III (1830–1918), married Malvina Dinehart (born 1845) in 1871
    7. Sarah Astor (1832–1832), died in infancy
  5. Dorothee Astor (1795–1874), married Walter Langdon (1788–1847) in 1812
    1. Sarah Astor Langdon (1813–1895), m. 1834 Jonkheer François Robert Boreel (1806–1869) (6 children)
    2. John Langdon (1816–1837) (no issue)
    3. Eliza Astor Langdon (1818–1896), m. 1842 Matthew Wilks (1816–1899) (6 children)
    4. Louisa Dorothea Langdon (1820–1894), m. 1841 Oliver DeLancey Kane (1816–1874) (8 children)
    5. Walter Langdon (1822–1894), m. Catherine Livingston (1847–?) (no issue)
    6. Woodbury Langdon (1824–1867), m. Helen Colford Jones (1824–1895) (1 son)
    7. Cecilia Langdon (1827–1906), m. 1840 Johann von Nottbeck, Consul General of Russia (4 children)
    8. Eugene Langdon (1831–1866)
  6. Henry Astor II (1797-1799), died in infancy
  7. Eliza Astor (1801–1838), married Count Vincenz von Rumpff (1789–1867) in 1825
  8. Unknown son (1802-1802), died in infancy

Spouses[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wikisource-logo.svg Wilson, James Grant; Fiske, John, eds. (1900). "Astor, John Jacob". Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton. 
  2. ^ Wikisource-logo.svg "Astor Family". Encyclopedia Americana. 1920. 
  3. ^ Thomas Lately, A pride of lions: the Astor orphans; the Chanler chronicle, W. Morrow, 1971.
  4. ^ http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/archives/resources/genealogy.html
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Astor_family&oldid=560105515"