John Jacob Astor IV was born on July 13, 1864, in New York into one of the most affluent families in the world. The first John Jacob Astor. Stock Montage/ GettyThe Astor family dates back to the early 1700s when the original John Jacob Astor (pictured) came to the Americas from a small village in Germany to make a name for himself. Quickly, Astor bought land all around Manhattan, becoming one of the richest men in the world and creating a dynasty. When John Jacob Astor IV was born to William Astor and Caroline Webster Schermerhorn in 1864, the Astor name was already well-respected in high society, and the family's fortune was one of the world's largest.

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Persons: John Jacob Astor IV, John Jacob Astor, Astor, William Astor, Caroline Webster Schermerhorn Locations: New York, Americas, Germany, Manhattan