John Jacob Astor: Volume I John Jacob Astor: Business Man, Volume I

Starting his business career by selling musical instruments in New York City, John Jacob Astor then bought and sold furs and developed trade with Europe, Canton, and the Pacific Northwest. Luck was his friend, the world his game of chance. New York City his prize; and his work helped to point the way to New York’s later position of greatness in commerce and finance. After he had done so much to build up the commerce which made that city great, he turned to capitalize and secure his earnings. The distant trades in tea and fur he left as of waning profits for the more certain and easily managed business of owning real estate on Manhattan Island. This biography not only chronicles the scope of his business career but brings out those elements of personality which led to unprecedented success. The work is built up on the basis of letters, accounts, and deeds, but tradition is not disregarded. Many original documents are reproduced as part of the story. CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS LIST OF DOCUMENTS EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION AUTHOR’S ACKNOWLEDGMENTS CHAPTER I. EARLY LIFE TO ARRIVAL IN AMERICA 1763–1784 CHAPTER II. EARLY YEARS IN NEW YORK CITY TO ESTABLISHMENT AS A RISING YOUNG MERCHANT, 1784–1790 CHAPTER III. THE FUR TRADE TO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE AMERICAN FUR COMPANY, 1790–1808 NOTES CHAPTER IV. LAND INVESTMENTS IN LOWER CANADA AND THE NEW YORK BACKCOUNTRY CHAPTER V. GENERAL MERCHANDISING TILL THE CHINA TRADE ASSUMED IMPORTANCE, 1790–1803 NOTES CHAPTER VI. THE TRADE WITH THE ORIENT UP TO THE WAR 1800-1812 NOTES CHAPTER VII. THE PACIFIC FUR COMPANY AND ASTORIA: FROM THE INCORPORATION OF THE AMERICAN FUR COMPANY T O THE OUTBREAK OF THE WAR, 1808–1812 NOTES CHAPTER VIII. THE PACIFIC FUR COMPANY AND ASTORIA: FROM THE OUTBREAK OF THE WAR TO THE FINAL RELINQUISHMENT OF ASTORIA TO THE NORTH WEST COMPANY, 1812-1818 NOTES CHAPTER IX. THE WAR OF 1812–1815 : THE FUR TRADE NOTES CHAPTER X. THE WAR OF 1812–1815 : COMMERCE WITH EUROPE AND CANTON NOTES CHAPTER XI. THE WAR OF 1812–1815 : GOVERNMENT LOANS AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE NOTES DOCUMENTS 1788–1815 DOCUMENTS. Part 1 DOCUMENTS. Part 2 DOCUMENTS. Part 3