Best Known For Fur trader and real estate investor John Jacob
Astor was one of the leading businessmen of his day and the
founder of an American fur trade dynasty. Think you know about
Biography? Answer questions and see how you rank against other
players.Play Now John Jacob Astor opened his own fur trade shop
in 1786 and often traveled to the wilderness to procure furs for
the shop. A few years later, he made his first real estate
investment. All of his fur businesses were merged into the
American Fur Company in 1808. After the war of 1812, he became
even richer than before from a bond deal with the U.S.
government. He died in 1848. Fur trader, real estate investor.
Born on July 17, 1763, in Waldorf, Germany. The son of a German
butcher, Astor grew up to become one of the leading businessmen
of his day and the founder of an American dynasty. When he was
seventeen, he made his way to London to work for his older
brother George who made musical instruments. In 1784, he left
London with some flutes and about $2