Post by Paul Daley on Apr 10, 2005 9:26:06 GMT -5
With a net worth well over 87 million dollars, John Astor the fourth was without a doubt the richest man aboard the Titanic. Backed by a powerful family fortune made from fur trading, Astor had made millions of his own investing in real estate. He also held patents on a number of items of his own invention, including an improved bicycle brake, and a turbine engine.
Astor led a fairly remarkable life. During the Spanish American war, Astor financed his own battalion. Before the war, he wrote a science fiction novel about life on other planets. He also invented a "vibratory disintegrator", which supposedly produced some sort of gas from peat moss. (peat moss produces trace gasses on its own, but they didn't know that in 1912)
He boarded the ship with his wife, ( 19 and pregnant at the time, and her age was quite a point of conversation with other first class passengers) , a maid, a manservant, a personal nurse, and a dog, and his staterooms were without equal. With working fireplaces, and adjoining quarters for servants, the suites cost $4,000.00, an amount that equals $50,000.00 in today's dollars.
As his wife boarded a lifeboat, Astor asked if he could accompany her, due to her "delicate condition", but an officer refused. Taking the refusal in stride, Astor then threw his gloves to his wife, and lit a cigarette. He and his dog were last seen on deck. A few days later, Astor's body was found floating in the open sea. It was covered in soot, and partially crushed, leading experts to believe he had been smashed by a falling smokestack. He had $2,500 cash in his pocket.
Madeleine survived to inherit $1.7 million from John, and on August 14th that same year gave birth to John Jacob Astor the fifth, who would grow up to become a millionaire playboy much like his father.
Astor led a fairly remarkable life. During the Spanish American war, Astor financed his own battalion. Before the war, he wrote a science fiction novel about life on other planets. He also invented a "vibratory disintegrator", which supposedly produced some sort of gas from peat moss. (peat moss produces trace gasses on its own, but they didn't know that in 1912)
He boarded the ship with his wife, ( 19 and pregnant at the time, and her age was quite a point of conversation with other first class passengers) , a maid, a manservant, a personal nurse, and a dog, and his staterooms were without equal. With working fireplaces, and adjoining quarters for servants, the suites cost $4,000.00, an amount that equals $50,000.00 in today's dollars.
As his wife boarded a lifeboat, Astor asked if he could accompany her, due to her "delicate condition", but an officer refused. Taking the refusal in stride, Astor then threw his gloves to his wife, and lit a cigarette. He and his dog were last seen on deck. A few days later, Astor's body was found floating in the open sea. It was covered in soot, and partially crushed, leading experts to believe he had been smashed by a falling smokestack. He had $2,500 cash in his pocket.
Madeleine survived to inherit $1.7 million from John, and on August 14th that same year gave birth to John Jacob Astor the fifth, who would grow up to become a millionaire playboy much like his father.