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John Jacob Astor
John Jacob Astor
Biological Information
Full name

John Jacob Astor IV

Gender

Male

Born

July 13, 1864

Death

April 15, 1912 (age 47)

Cause

Perished on Titanic

Background Information
Family

John Jacob Astor VI (son)

Romances
  • Ava Lowle Astor (m. 1891, div. 1910)
  • Madeleine Astor (m. 1911, his death 1912)
Hometown

Rhinebeck, New York

Religion

Christian

Titanic Statistics
Boarded

Cherbourg, France

Destination

New York, U.S.A.

Occupation

First Class Passenger

Class

First-Class

Fate

Drowned on the ship's grand staircase

Production
Classification

Historical Character

Portrayal

Eric Braeden

John Jacob Astor was a real passenger on the Titanic, and one of the, if not the most famous and wealthiest passengers onboard.

He had taken voyage with his pregnant mistress of only 18-years old, Madeleine, with him being 47, which caused quite a scandal, something that Rose tells Jack about.

He's portrayed by Eric Braeden. He perished in the sinking. Before they sit at the big tables, he asks Dawson from what region he is. A little confused he hears that he's from Chippewa Falls, which is perhaps not a place that Astor is familiar with.

We last see him holding on to a pillar when the Dome is caved in by the rushing water, around 2:12 A.M.

Deleted scenes[]

Shortly after 1:25 A.M., he is seen in the Gym, explaining to Madeline how lifebelts work. He opened one with his knife to show the cork inside it. This is historically accurate.

Later, around 1:55 A.M. he is looking for Madeleine's dog and he meets up with Benjamin Guggenheim and his valet Victor Robbins. The shook hands and said goodbye to eachother.

History of the real Astor[]

Astor was a member of the prominent Astor family, and had served as lieutenant colonel in the 1898 Spanish-American War.

Colonel John Jacob Astor IV was born in Rhinebeck, New York on July 13th, 1864 the son of William Astor and great-grandson of John Jacob Astor the fur trader. Astor was educated at St. Paul's School, Concord and later went to Harvard. After a period of travelling abroad (1888-91) he returned to the United States to manage the family fortune. He had homes at 840 Fifth Avenue, New York and at Ferncliff , Rhinebeck, New York.

In 1894 Astor wrote a semi-scientific novel A Journey in Other Worlds . During his life he also developed several mechanical devices including a bicycle brake (1898), helped to develop the turbine engine, and invented a pneumatic road-improver.

In 1897 Astor built the Astoria Hotel, New York adjoining the Waldorf Hotel which had been built by William Waldorf Astor, his cousin. The new complex became known as the Waldorf-Astoria. Astor's real-estate interest included two other hotels, the Hotel St. Regis (1905) and the Knickerbocker (1906).

He became Colonel-staff to General Levi P. Morton and in 1898, at the time of the Spanish-American War, was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel in the US volunteers. He placed his yacht Nourmahal at the disposal of the U.S. government and equipped a mountain battery of artillery for use against the Spanish.

On 1 May 1891 Astor was married to Ava, daughter of Edward Shippen Willing of Philadelphia . Together they had a son and one daughter. However, in 1909 Astor divorced Ava and, two years later, married eighteen-year-old Madeleine Force (who was a year younger than his son Vincent). Public opinion was divided concerning the respectability of Astor's actions, and the newlyweds decided to winter abroad in order to let the gossip die down at home. Mr and Mrs Astor travelled to Egypt and Paris and, in the spring of 1912, decided to return to America as First Class passengers on board the brand new Titanic .

They boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg with Colonel Astor's manservant Mr Victor Robbins , Mrs Astor's maid Miss Rosalie Bidois , Miss Caroline Louise Endres Mrs Astor's private nurse and their pet Airedale Kitty. Their ticket was PC 17757 which cost £224 10s 6d. They occupied cabins C-62/64.

After the accident Astor left his suite to investigate, he quickly returned and reported to his wife that the ship had struck ice. He reassured her that the damage did not appear serious.

Later, when the First Class passengers had begun to congregate on the boat deck , the Astors sat on the mechanical horses in the gymnasium. They wore their lifebelts but Colonel Astor had found another and cut the lining with a pen knife to show his wife what it was made of.

Even as the boats were loaded Astor appeared unperturbed, he ridiculed the idea of trading the solid decks of the Titanic for a small lifeboat 'we are safer here than in that little boat' . He had changed his mind by 1:45 A.M. when Second Officer Charles Lightoller arrived on A-Deck to finish loading lifeboat 4 . Astor helped his wife to climb through the windows of the enclosed Promenade and then asked if he might join her, being as she was in 'a delicate condition'. Lightoller told him that no men could enter until all the women had been loaded. Astor stood back and just asked Lightoller which boat it was. While Lightoller presumed he did that to file complaints, it's most likely he just wanted to know so he could find her later in case he would survive. After boat 4 was lowered at 1:50 A.M, Astor stood alone while others tried to free the remaining Collapsible boats.

Moments later he was looking for Madeleine's dog. He didn't survive.

Astor's body was recovered on April 22 by the steamer Mackay-Bennett.

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