Definition

Proper noun: - John Jacob Astor: A United States capitalist and fur trader. He was born in Germany in 1763 and died in 1848. He founded the American Fur Company and became one of the wealthiest people in American history through the fur trade and later real estate investments.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • John Jacob Astor established a fur trading empire in the early 19th century.
  • The wealth of John Jacob Astor made him a prominent figure in New York society.
  • Many biographies have been written about the life of John Jacob Astor.

Advanced Usage

• "the Astor fortune": Refers to the immense wealth accumulated by John Jacob Astor and his descendants.
  • The Astor fortune was built on the fur trade.
• "an Astor": Can be used to refer to a member of the prominent Astor family.
  • She married an Astor and entered high society.

Variants and Related Words

• Astor, John Jacob Astor (noun): The full name.
• Astorian (adj): Pertaining to John Jacob Astor or his enterprises.
  • The Astorian expedition was an attempt to establish a fur trading post at the mouth of the Columbia River.

Synonyms

• Capitalist: A person who has capital, especially extensive capital, invested in business enterprises.
• Fur magnate: A person of great influence or importance in the fur trade.
• Tycoon: A wealthy, powerful person in business or industry.

Related Phrases

• American Fur Company: The business founded by John Jacob Astor.
  • The American Fur Company dominated the fur trade for decades.
• Waldorf-Astoria: A famous hotel chain, originally linked to the Astor family's real estate holdings.
  • They stayed at the Waldorf-Astoria during their visit to New York.

Noun

1. United States capitalist (born in Germany) who made a fortune in fur trading (1763-1848)