This biography tells the story of John Jacob Astor, one of the most successful and influential businessmen of the 19th century. Astor made his fortune in the fur trade and real estate, and played a key role in the economic and cultural development of New York City. The book offers a detailed account of Astor's life and career, and sheds new light on his complex personality and motivations. With extensive research and analysis, The Life of John Jacob Astor is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of American business and entrepreneurship. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.