Astor during the Spanish-American War
He may be most famously remembered for building the "the world’s most luxurious hotel" in New York City in 1897. The complex became known as the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and the Astor family went on to unheard of wealth.
Astor and his child bride, Madeleine
After an unsuccessful marriage that produced two children, the 47 year-old Astor remarried in 1911 to 18-year–old Madeleine Force . As she was one year younger than his son, the newlyweds took an extended trip to Europe while the scandalous gossip died down. While in Europe, Madeleine became pregnant, and wanting the child born in the United States, the Astors booked first–class passage on the next luxury cruise ship headed for the US. They sailed from Cherbourg, France on 15 April 1912 aboard the brand new ship, the RMS Titanic.
The RMS Titanic
John Jacob Astor was by far the wealthiest passenger on board the Titanic and he traveled with his wife Madeleine, his servant, his wife's maid and nurse, and his pet Airedale, Kitty. When the Titanic hit an iceberg and began sinking at 11:40 p.m. on 14 April 1912, Astor did not believe the ship was in any serious danger. He later helped his wife into a lifeboat and asked if he could join her, mentioning her "delicate condition" (she was five months pregnant at the time), but the officer in charge told him not until all the women and children were away. Astor reportedly stood back and asked for the lifeboat number, then, after lighting a cigarette, he tossed his gloves to Madeleine. She survived, but 1,157 others did not.
“The Sinking of the Titanic", by Henry Reuterdahl
Astor’s body was recovered on April 22 not far from the sinking—it was identified by the “JJA” embroidered on his shirt and he had in excess of $3000 in his pockets.
What’s the connection to DC?
On 26 May 1931, the Women's Titanic Memorial Association unveiled a thirteen-foot-tall figure of a partly clad male figure with arms outstretched overlooking the Washington Channel near Fort McNair. The Titanic Memorial honors the men who died on the RMS Titanic while giving up their place for others. The inscription reads, “To the brave men who perished in the wreck of the Titanic. April 15 1912. They gave their lives that woman and children might be saved.”
The inscription reads, “To the brave men who perished in the wreck of the Titanic. April 15 1912. They gave their lives that woman and children might be saved.”
The inscription reads, “To the brave men who perished in the wreck of the Titanic. April 15 1912. They gave their lives that woman and children might be saved.”
If the pose looks familiar, it’s probably because it was copied by Kate Winslet and Leonardo di Caprio in the 1997 film Titanic.
And you thought Hollywood was just being creative. . .
The Memorial was originally located on the site where the Kennedy Center now stands, and was moved to its present location in 1972. It’s one of the least known monuments in a city of monuments.
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