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Title details for John Jacob Astor and the First Great American Fortune by Alexander Emmerich - Available

John Jacob Astor and the First Great American Fortune

by Alexander Emmerich
ebook
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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 founder of the first American settlement on the Pacific (Astoria, Oregon) and of New York's fine hotels the Astor House and the Waldorf-Astoria, as well as a developer of the American West and a fur trader. Many American cities and sites are named after him. He donated the Astor Library to the city of New York (it became the first public library of the city), now part of the New York Public Library.
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Publisher: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers

Kindle Book

  • Release date: July 30, 2013

OverDrive Read

  • ISBN: 9781476603827
  • Release date: July 30, 2013

PDF ebook

  • ISBN: 9781476603827
  • File size: 9129 KB
  • Release date: July 30, 2013

Formats

Kindle Book
OverDrive Read
PDF ebook
Kindle restrictions

subjects

Biography & Autobiography Business History Nonfiction

Languages

English

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 founder of the first American settlement on the Pacific (Astoria, Oregon) and of New York's fine hotels the Astor House and the Waldorf-Astoria, as well as a developer of the American West and a fur trader. Many American cities and sites are named after him. He donated the Astor Library to the city of New York (it became the first public library of the city), now part of the New York Public Library.
Expand title description text
Biography & Autobiography Business History Nonfiction