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Quick Facts
- NAME: John Jacob Astor V
- OCCUPATION: Entrepreneur, Royalty, Publisher
- BIRTH DATE: c. May 20, 1886
- DEATH DATE: July 19, 1971
- EDUCATION: Eton College, Oxford University
- PLACE OF BIRTH: New York, New York
- PLACE OF DEATH: Cannes, France
- Full Name: John Jacob Astor V, 1st Baron Astor of Hever
- AKA: John Jacob Astor V
- AKA: Baron Astor of Hever
- AKA: John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever
Best Known For
John Jacob Astor V, the fifth member of the American Astor family to bear the name John Jacob, became owner and chairman of The Times of London in 1922.
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The Astors - Full Biography (44:55)
The Astors - Full Biography
Few families in American history have sustained a place for so long in the public eye as the Astors have. For over two hundred years the Astor name has been synonymous with New York high society.
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Play NowJohn Jacob Astor V. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 05:28, May 25, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/john-jacob-astor-v-9191184.
John Jacob Astor V. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/john-jacob-astor-v-9191184 [Accessed 25 May 2013].
"John Jacob Astor V." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 25 2013, 05:28 http://www.biography.com/people/john-jacob-astor-v-9191184.
"John Jacob Astor V," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/john-jacob-astor-v-9191184 [accessed May 25, 2013].
"John Jacob Astor V," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/john-jacob-astor-v-9191184 (accessed May 25, 2013).
John Jacob Astor V [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 25] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/john-jacob-astor-v-9191184.
John Jacob Astor V, http://www.biography.com/people/john-jacob-astor-v-9191184 (last visited May 25, 2013).
John Jacob Astor V. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/john-jacob-astor-v-9191184. Accessed May 25, 2013.
Synopsis
John Jacob Astor V was born on May 20, 1886, in New York City. In 1922, he became chairman and owner of The Times of London. He remained chairman until 1959, when his eldest son took over the position for him. Astor was also active in politics, serving as a conservative member of the English Parliament from 1922 to 1945. He died in 1971.
Born into an American Dynasty
Born in New York City on May 20, 1886, John Jacob Astor V was born into the prestigious Astor family, the American financial dynasty that began with German entrepreneur John Jacob Astor, John Jacob V's great-great-grandfather.
The fifth member of the family to bear the illustrious name John Jacob and the son of William Waldorf Astor, Astor spent much of his life in England and was educated at Eton College, a private school for boys, before enrolling at Oxford University. In 1916, he married Lady Violet Eliiott. The couple would have three sons together: Gavin, Hugh and John.
War Hero and Newspaper Owner
At the beginning of World War I, John Jacob Astor V joined the military and was twice injured in battle. Not only was Astor a distinguished war hero, he became baron, inheriting the title from his father at the time of his death in 1919.
In 1922, John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever, became chairman and owner of one of the world's most prestigious newspapers, The Times of London. He believed in maintaining high standards for his publication and was supportive of his staff. He remained chairman until 1959, when his eldest son, Gavin Astor, took over the position for him. Astor was also active in politics, serving as a conservative member of the English Parliament from 1922 to 1945.
Final Years
John Jacob Astor V left his beloved England in 1962, settling in France. It is said that he moved to avoid inheritance taxes. He died on July 19, 1971, in Cannes, France.
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The Astor Family
View groupFew families in American history have sustained a place for so long in the public eye as the Astors have. For more than 200 years, the Astor name has been synonymous with New York high society. The family's fortune began to grow after John Jacob Astor, a German immigrant, founded the American Fur Company in 1808. Learn more about John Jacob and his descendants, including William Backhouse, William Waldorf, John Jacob IV and John Jacob V, as well as Brooke and Madeleine Force Astor—who scored their own fortunes by marrying into the Astor family—only at Biography.com.
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