The Astors - America's 'Royal' Families

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The Astors... Chances are you’ve hear the name of this prominent and obscenely wealthy dynasty of gilded age America. You may have been to a hotel, library, subway station or town that bares their name; vaguely remember that one of them went down with the Titanic, or recall seeing their modern decedents in US or UK tabloids. But who were these captains of industry and Queens of society? Today we’ll sort out the Astor family tree, put faces to the famous names and unearth their scandals! We’ll explore how they got their incredible wealth, what they did with it and what their decedents are up to today.
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Music: Butterflies in Love by Sir Cubworth
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[@tinas_hotdog_sophie]

Lindsay, are you making a video about Queen Margarete's abdication? And why she and Beatrice can abdicate but Lizzy couldn't (They used a term in The Crown, that is slipping my mind atm, but I guess you also watched the series)

[@LindsayHoliday]

Yes! I started working on it this morning. If all goes well, the next 2 weeks will be videos on Margrethe II, Frederik X and the Danish monarchy!

[@nicksworld2233]

Thank You @@LindsayHoliday 😃

[@franziskaohrt294]

LINDSAY ❤ THAT'S GREAT ❤ if I recall it well enough Queen Elizabeth II could not/ would not abdicate because of her speech which was broadcasted from South Africa (?!) When she decated her life to the crown n commonwealth.. so technically she could have abdicated but that would have meant breaking her word which in course of her uncle s abdication was a no go

[@andypham1636]

abdication is seen as a no no in the British monarchy, especially since QEII's dad was thrust onto the throne because of one

[@angelmendez2769]

@@LindsayHolidayAmazing. I love your work! 😇

[@fiig5196]

“ he was infertile and she was a lesbian so that marriage only lasted 26 years “ this made me bust up laughing for some reason

[@scrappy00001]

Same, I was scrolling to find out if anyone felt the same. Most marriages don’t last that long

[@haute03]

The sarcasm was so well done! I cracked up too! 😂

[@nathy0308]

Same 😂

[@savannah115]

Saaaaame I actually guffawed

[@rachelw1076]

😂

[@lakrids-pibe]

My sympathy goes to the brother who married a farmers daughter and cut his ties with that crazy, toxic bunch.

[@michelleburkholder2547]

Henry Astor is my favorite. I love the one who will walk away from a fortune to live an authentic life with people he loved.

[@Jiffypop]

The more I learn about these “great” families, the less admirable they become.

[@alperry02]

Exactly.

[@henrylivingstone2971]

The only thing “great” about them is the extent of their fortunes

[@vickimingus9281]

i know

[@here_we_go_again2571]

Climbing to the top of the economic or political pile is not an occupation for nice people. Some of these people's children were very generous to their communities. Other children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren just squandered their grandparents and parents' hard earned money on lavish and riotous living (like Gloria Vanderbilt's parents).

[@joanfourie1753]

Totally

[@VulturesArePeopleToo]

EVERY time you say John Jacob....my brain just goes straight to this......John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I can't stop

[@andypham1636]

Franklin from American housewife

[@Dresdenflower]

After all, his name is my name too. 😄

[@anonbye]

+ Whenever we go out , the people always shout THERE GOES JOHN JACOB JINGLEHEIMER SCHMIDT NANANANA~ 💃 (I 1st heard this song from the Recess School’s Out movie cry😢)

[@sjm9876]

😂😂😂

[@Eneri-z9v]

​​@@anonbyeI learn that song in music 🎶 class 🔙 in elementary school about half a century ago 😂.

[@thenamazing6530]

Today I learned that John Jacob Astor was more than just "that guy who died on the Titanic." His science fiction novel is public domain and available on Project Gutenberg.

[@love2000amglam]

Oh sweet! Thanks for the tip.

[@areiaaphrodite]

I love Nancy Astor, the Viscountess Astor. She was legendary for her fiesty nature and her banters with William Churchill. Churchill: * says something along the lunes of having a woman in Parliament is like having a woman encroach on him in the bathroom* Nancy: Sir, you are not handsome enough to have such fears

[@OkieJammer2736]

😂

[@ethangrant8736]

Did you miss the appeasing hitler part

[@areiaaphrodite]

@ethangrant8736 And Gandhi slept naked with underage girls, and yet people still idolise him. Literally, every person in history did something messed up because humans aren't perfect.It's just a game of picking your poison. It didn't make her any less brilliant, funny, or witty and didn't stop her from still being remembered as the first woman to be voted into Parliament.

[@dreapress1227]

Nancy was sounding kind of cool til the appeasing Hitler part . Wow. Not cool at all.

[@vivienmartin225]

You love her? Interesting. Guess you love Hitler too.

[@Crumbsx13]

Important to note Nancy Astor wasnt the first female MP, it was Constance Markievicz. She didnt take her seat as she was an irish republican and didnt recognise the sovreignty of the british parliament

[@John-qd5of]

That's right: she wouldn't take up her seat in parliament, because parliament did not recognise the right of Irish people to be free. Therefore Constance Markiewicz refused to recognise parliament. It is a bit like Sinn Fein M.P.'s todah.

[@John-qd5of]

Years and years ago, my mother and I watched a TV drama about the life of Nancy Astor in the UK. She married an aristocrat, became a defender of women's rights, and finally an M.P.

[@Crumbsx13]

she was a sinn fein mp @@John-qd5of

[@areiaaphrodite]

Nancy Astor: Sir, if you were my husband, Id poison your tea! Winston Churchill: Madame, if you were my wife, Id drink it!

[@thickymcchicky6987]

Fun fact! HMS is usually reserved for warships, titanic had the prefix RMS as a royal mail steamer, had the ship not sank in 1912 it’s likely she would have either bore HMT(his majesty’s troopship) or HMHS if she had been requisitioned as a hospital ship during world war one

[@Steamytheme419]

Fun fact, that is exactly what happened to titanic sisters, RMS olympic (troop carrier, scrapped 1935) and RMS Britannic (hospital ship, sank in 1916)

[@ericcub78]

On your family tree for the Astors, you have William Backhouse Astor Sr.'s wife as Sarah Cox Todd, which was his mother's name.

[@stannieholt8766]

I noticed that too. William B’s wife was named Margaret Alida Rebecca Armstrong.

[@susannpatton2893]

I mentioned that in my post just a few minutes ago. I wondered if mom was the grandmother and mother of and she wasn't telling that part 😅

[@tondriasanders6306]

Oh thank god you guys saw it too! I thought I was losing my mind! I rewatched several times trying to see what I had missed and when I didn’t I came into the comments to make sure I wasn’t the only one.

[@loiscobb687]

I really enjoy the HBO gilded age series. It made me want to look at these old and new money families and you've done a much better job. Thank you 👏 for your excellent research

[@loiscobb687]

I just finished watching the end of The Crown series which I thought was excellently acted. My question is how true was the series?

[@lucyjane3803]

This reminded me of when I was researching the Grosvenor family in London for a work project - much like the Astors buying some farms that became Fifth Avenue, it went something along the lines of them buying some fields in medieval times that are now Mayfair 😅

[@alperry02]

This was so interesting! I hope you continue this series about the American gilded age wealthy families

[@davemochaccino6727]

“The war of 1812 cut off trade with Europe, so John Jacob got involved in the opium business” well that escalated quickly. But fascinating video nonetheless

[@lilthepill777]

the cycles of high society are funny. all old money families were part of the “noveau riche” at some point

[@lakrids-pibe]

I'm sorry, but I prefer to eat dinner with people who doesn't wipe their hands in my dress.

[@zomgmolly]

Yes 🙌 I’m so interested in their story. I’ve realized I know much less about American history than I do European 😅 I’m very glad to learn more about our country from you! Thank you, Lindsay!

[@chasechristophermurraydola9314]

Can you do the Vanderbilt family next and I am asking because they transformed the geography of the United States by investing in the rapidly growing railroad industry but I am also asking because the descendants of the first famous Vanderbilt Cornelius Commadore Vanderbilt have a lot of titles like The Earls of Nottingham, Earls of Winchilsea , The counts of Szechenyi, Dukes of Marlborough, Earls of Inchcape and the Pease Baronets of Hummersknott and the family also includes the famous actor Timothy Olyphant.

[@LindsayHoliday]

Yes, if this video does well I will be doing episodes on the Vanderbilts and several other famous families!

[@chasechristophermurraydola9314]

@@LindsayHoliday okay thanks because I am interested in commodore Vanderbilt.

[@justineharper3346]

@@LindsayHolidayI hope it does well because I would love videos on American “royalty”. I’m American, but I feel like I know more about other countries important dynasties lol

[@John-qd5of]

It is a little known fact that ancestors of Princess Diana on the Spencer side married the daughter of an American tycoon in the gilded age. He believed his son's family were corrupt, inbred and effete.

[@iamanovercomer6906]

​@@LindsayHolidayI hope its done well enough

[@CamilleKim02]

NOTE At 18:43, her surname "Pugh" is pronounced "pew." And at 18:50, is the "Profumo Affair" not "Profuma"

[@lucypreece7581]

I never knew who these people were. I am British. We don;t learn about this kind of stuff at school so it is very interesting to learn about families like these. I remember having to learn some information about a company I had applied to work for. I didn't get the job in the end but learning about the history of the company was genuinley interesting. I had applied to a Jewellery store and the origings of it was interesting. From humble beginnings of Jewish Immigrants in Ireland selling luxury goods from a suitcase to a national company with members of thesame original family still at the helm

[@areiaaphrodite]

I'm British, too, and I knew about Nancy Astor

[@lucypreece7581]

@@areiaaphrodite I think I have heard the name but never any details about who she is

[@justineharper3346]

I’m American, and I don’t know much about them. Our history isn’t taught very well over here. The only thing I knew was that one of them went down with the Titanic, and that’s only because i was obsessed with that subject growing up lol

[@thedorkone1516]

I'm American, and we don't learn this stuff in school either -- though I expect that the Astors might come up in New York schools the way people like Daniel Boon and Stephan Foster came up where I went to school -- as local famous people from Ye Olde Days who have their names on things.

[@annbsirius1703]

As an American I never learned about Nancy Astor in school, but I'm surprised she doesn't get at least a mention in British schools. It may depend on your teacher for that subject or what the school decides is important.

[@TJTHEFOOTBALLPROPHET]

You have been on fire!!! Just when I think you can't top your last video you top it! From Your number one fan in New Orleans!❤

[@brittanybradford5075]

This was one of your best breakdowns! So interesting to see this one families influence on a global society!

[@dymondsobiesczyk16]

Me living in Green Bay 90% of my life and drove past the Astor House Bed and Breakfast numerous times, never put that together. 😅

[@elleni-41]

During Christmas I watched all the videos of Christmas traditions.. absolutely loved those videos, that I watched them a second time..😅😅

[@joanngreen7059]

Thank for doing this video on what we call in America the Robber Barons your video highlights just a few of them.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Your videos always make my day! You're simply amazing at what you do and an inspiration! Keep beign the best! May this year be full of blessings for you linsay! I know it will be for us thanks to you! Please do a video on margarthe ii! with her adbication in favor of her son coming it would be very interesting!

[@victoriagoss8681]

Fantastic video as always. Thanks Lindsay

[@sugarplum5824]

What a fascinating video! I have always been interested in Nancy Langhorne Astor, as she spent part of her childhood near my hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia. Her home in Albemarle County, Mirador, still stands today and is the epitome of Southern charm. Her life was incredibly interesting, along with the lives of her 4 sisters. "Five Sisters: The Langhorne Sisters of Virginia" by James Fox, is a riveting read. Her younger sister, Irene, was the original Gibson Girl. Thank you again for a wonderfully entertaining, well researched and informative piece of American and British history. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@tundrawomansays694]

Thanks for this information. Much appreciated.

[@bethanymargason8383]

Thank you so much for showing us a photo of you and your dad in Astoria,Oregon! I recognize the bridge in the background! Happy New Year!

[@leeannmaiden1]

So happy you made this I have been craving something to watch some the guilded age ended!!

[@TheDecoCottage]

As a Green Bay native, there is no “Astor Street.” We have Astor Park, which is a historic neighborhood named after John Jacob Astor.

[@candiceyoung8244]

After having watched a few years i have to say,this is your very best video. Thank you ❤

[@DawnShipley1977]

I love Astoria! I live a few hours away from it.

[@sequandi5741]

We visit Astoria, Or often! Only live about 2hrs away, Tapiola Park is the best park!

[@caroleharris3450]

My secondary school was called Astor of heaver, in Kent UK, we had lord Astor of beaver speak at a speech day once. The school now goes by another name I think.

[@emilybarclay8831]

I believe it’s called St Augustine Academy now. The original academy closed down in 2011 and it was sorta renamed/reborn as St Augustine

[@karmagirl314]

"Mumps left him infertile and his wife was a lesbian so that marriage only lasted.... 27 years". I'm crying, that might be the funniest thing I've heard in weeks.

[@OkieJammer2736]

This was so interesting. Well-researched. Thank you.

[@KellyfromMemphisDD214]

Enjoyed this IMMENSELY! 🤗 Thank you for sharing this… 25:12 😮 “marriage only lasted 26 years” 😂

[@Lcngopher]

NASCAR held their annual awards banquet at the waldorf astoria hotel from 1981-2008. It moved to the grand ball room in 1984, where it remained until NASCAR took the banquet to vegas in 2009

[@sarahcortese8558]

Just wanted to say thank you for making these videos! I just finished watching Downton Abbey, the Crown, and Victoria, and had no idea I was as interested in this history as I was. Your content is extremely enjoyable to watch and also super informative.

[@advocacynaccountablity]

So from opportunistic merchants, to drug dealers, to slum lords... When you see rich families, it's important to know how they got that money.

[@Kryssikinsable]

Happy new year Miss Lindsay!

[@DarthDread-oh2ne]

My stories, America does have A imperial family.

[@areiaaphrodite]

*An imperial fantasy

[@not.atyrant]

i would love to see you do a video on the Vanderbilt family!

[@TiffanyCalverley]

My grandmas family lived in Astoria for quite a while after moving from Oklahoma. I was always curious why it was named after that family!

[@matthewandheatherford2974]

William astor Jr bought 12000 acres in Florida originally called Manhattan now known as Astor, FL.

[@WindQueen12]

That was so interesting, thank you Lindsay!

[@annbsirius1703]

Excellent video, Lindsay, but I wouldn't have minded a longer 2 parter. I don't often have 45 minutes to watch a video, but don't mind 20 here or there. There's a lot to unpack with the Astors, and you did a great job, But it just seemed a little rushed.

[@TiemposDePaz]

I have never seen a young picture of FDR! He was striking. Even after visitng Hyde Park, I didn't see a picture of him at that age. (I just googled it, this is FDR and Eleanor Roosevelts son in the colorized photo, FDR Junior, not the president - well his son was good looking!). Did you do a video on the Roosevelt family tree? Also entwined with Old New York families, including the Astors, of course. I went to FDR's home in Oyster Bay. It was a great trip. North Shore of Long Island has several homes and tours available (Vanderbilt, Roosevelt), similar to Hudson River Valley area.

[@applejellypucci]

I think FDR Sr. was not bad looking even in older age. Illness took a toll but you can look at Sr.'s photos and tell he was good looking in his day. His son was also handsome 😊

[@marimccarthy386]

Excellent video. I enjoyed it very much

[@DarrinsDaffs]

Lindsey, thank you so much for this very interesting look into American “aristocracy”!

[@timpancakes2011]

Ohhhh very interesting! I just binge watched the Gilded Age so I clicked this video super fast. I had no idea Astoria Or was named for them! I love how much I learn from your channel

[@rommelyndeguzman1068]

I really like your video its so educating, thanks to you I get to knows so much and it helped me so much in my study.

[@noormanes3972]

I really like listening to your podcast.

[@carlylewis7088]

Brilliant episode! More like this please ❤

[@skylarerhardthomesandreale262]

My comment will likely get lost here but your dad’s hometown is Astoria?? I’m from there and my family has been there for 5 generations, I’ve been watching your channel for years, what a small world!!!

[@dizzyupmeems]

I live less than an hour from there! Small world indeed!

[@nathy0308]

This was really good tea

[@christymcwisty2325]

This was so interesting!

[@stacyk123]

If you're going to do American dynasties, you HAVE to do the Kennedys. They're probably the closest thing to royalty America has ever had.

[@ninamheyliger3558]

Lindsay, love your stories! Keep them coming!

[@vivienmartin225]

It’s so crazy to think that without private investments and projects from these people, New York City would not be the place it is today. This is why encouraging the citizens of a country to build businesses and investments is sooo important

[@jaysmakingprogress]

Thanks for this. I’m a descendant of the Schermerhorn family and I knew very little about their Astor connection until now.

[@itsJade360]

7:21 burn rubbish , bury treasure 7:32 you can’t buy your way into heaven though dear

[@Limegreenedragon]

Hey Lindsay, you plan on doing a vid about Queen Margrathie after hearing the news about her abdication on the 14th of January?

[@courtneycunningham9942]

So interesting! I can't wait for the Vanderbilt and Rockefeller family videos

[@here_we_go_again2571]

Poor Brooke Astor! Swindled by her own son (from an earlier marriage) and his socialite wife! If he hadn't been for her grandson getting involved, she would have starved to death in her 5th Ave apartment! Brooke was a decent human being who cared a lot about the people of NYC and the city itself. She certainly did not deserve to be being swindled by her natural son; whom she loved. (Edit to add: I know because my great-aunt was one of her friends and I used to see Brooke frequently)

[@samuelcohen2362]

It still blows my mind that you can be as rich as John Jacob and then just die like everyone else. Money truly can't save you from death, yet 😜

[@edinagaspar722]

Probably, could have bribed people but he was a gentleman

[@v.l.7656]

How profound 🙄

[@Akuchan7]

I was thinking that too. When I heard about all the evil stuff he did I thought well, money can’t buy you entry into heaven. Hope his sins were paid for!

[@aliceingoryland]

Thank you!!!! I've been so into the guilded age lately

[@marcusanark2541]

Very interested in the history of Old Money families.

[@JoyWaterfield]

8:02 I think Willam’s wife is incorrectly marked as his mom’s name.

[@Jenny-z8o5n]

Yay!!! Thanks for this, you're the best

[@avon1243]

Very interesting and well researched.

[@geodoumerc8116]

OmG! Your first clip from your phone made me jump with the noise and the volume level change!

[@MuddieRain]

After 37 years. This is the first time hearing about them. Not saying I never came across the name. But this is the first

[@susannpatton2893]

😂 you lead a sheltered life

[@emilybarclay8831]

@@susannpatton2893or they’re just from one of the 194 countries in the world who don’t give a shit about American history

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Happy new year lindsay!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤

[@nicksworld2233]

HI Lindsay I loved this video but can u make a video on Queen Margarete II of Denmark as she has announced her abdication on January 14th . Sad that she is Abdicating but happy that she can now rest n Prince Fredrick has a chance to rule with his mother by his side

[@sophroniel]

John Jacob and Vincent look so much like brothers tho!!! He was def an Astor. I doubt the naïve 18 year old knew or would risk sleeping around in that time, tbh.

[@leemiller29]

Lindsay, a million times in this video: John Jacob… My brain: Jingleheimer Schmidt Lindsay: … Astor My brain: oh yeah

[@TVandManga]

Great video!

[@TJTHEFOOTBALLPROPHET]

This video was 'Billie Jean' on a 'Thriller' album full of hits!❤❤❤

[@katka5407]

Please ,do you think that you could do video on Maude de Braose ?I read a book Lady of Hay that was inspired by her life and it was really interesting!

[@gd7886]

Lindsay! What about Countess Markievicz? SHE was the first elected female MP. Just because she never took her seat doesn't mean her achievement shouldn't be recognised!

[@jeni040866]

Yes, Nancy Astor was the first female MP to TAKE her seat since Sinn Féin MPs will not make the required oath of allegiance as they believe in a united Ireland not ruled from Westminster.

[@gd7886]

Daniel O'Connell fought for Catholics to have the right to exemption. The oath was not a necessity. Anyway my point was merely that the title on the video was misleading and diminishing Countess Markievicz achievement.

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

Looking forward to another amazing year with your content! You're one lf the Best! An inspiration! You're amazing 🔥🔥🔥🔥👑👑👑👑

[@LindsayHoliday]

Thank you so much!!

[@danielsantiagourtado3430]

@@LindsayHoliday always

[@amberwilcox2416]

Oooooo I'm hoping we get to watch more on "American royalty " ❤❤

[@jalleelbansie7565]

Loved this episode

[@jeannedouglas9912]

Anyone ever research where the Mckenzie and Ellsworth and Douglas' houses play a part in the Astor fur trading empire?

[@Bughotwheels]

Cool history 😎😎😎😎

[@WafflesAndSheep]

20:39 That picture is not of Franklin D. Roosevelt, but his son, Franklin jr :) Snopes did an article on that picture.

[@Sai.Divine]

I’m from nyc, it’s so weird to hear all these train stops connected to people lol. Thanks for the video :)

[@cassiefriedman1446]

I love learning about history thank you Lindsay ❤❤❤

[@sydneyfairbairn3773]

Excellent!

[@Lcngopher]

28:17 thats one way to have a character look like the person they were based on.

[@Elvertaw]

Thanks for the video!! I knew there were American and British Astor’s but didn’t know how the family got that way! ❤

[@meccajones4768]

Backhouse Astor had his version of the Lolita Express. Nothing new under this Sun.

[@PistachioDean]

I love that my key takeaway from this was that one of the Astor's helped create eggs benny

[@kanaanthepersianprinceandf906]

Why does the family tree show William BakeHouse Snr as married to a woman with the same name as his mother?

[@vallergy]

My school dorm in Newport was named after them.

[@susannpatton2893]

How can the son, William Backhouse Astor Sr. Wife have the same name as his mother? Both women were the same name, or how does that figure into all this?

[@lfgifu296]

omg in the thumbnail I read “Founding Father” rather than “Furry Founder”😭 I just thought hmmm? Happy New Year all :)

[@crystalmesser6902]

😂😅😂