The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Astor Family

ASTOR FAMILY, a famous American family representing one of the three or four greatest private properties in the world. A family in the Old World sense, &mdash; a territorial aristocracy, impossible to destroy, and fortified with legal immunities and privileges, &mdash; can hardly be founded in America; but the Astors have approached it as nearly as our institutions will admit. They form a group of immense hereditary real-estate owners, with holdings so solidly based and well distributed in the metropolis of America that no apparent catastrophe save a failure of heirs could extinguish it; and though originally springing from mercantile business, removed by some three-quarters of a century from its actual conduct. For many years they were known as &ldquo;the landlords of New York,&rdquo; and the best of landlords, prompt, just and courteous; they still probably form the largest set of individual real-estate holders. The family is also connected with notable municipal charities and public foundations. See (1763-1848); (1822-90); (1864-1912); (1792-1875); (1848-).