John Jacob Astor and the first great American fortune / Alexander Emmerich.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Emmerich, Alexander.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Businesspeople--United States--Biography.

Businesspeople.

German Americans--Biography.

German Americans.

Millionaires--United States--Biography.

Millionaires.

Astor, John Jacob, 1763-1848.

Astor, John Jacob.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (205 p.)

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, NC : McFarland & Company, Inc., 2013.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

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

Contents:

Cover; 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 StatesBusiness 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; Chapter Notes; Bibliography; Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-4766-0382-0

OCLC:

854585623