Caroline Schermerhorn Astor

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Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, around 1853/1860
Emile Auguste Carolus-Duran : Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, oil on canvas, 1890

Caroline Schermerhorn Astor , also known as The Mrs. Astor (born September 22, 1830 in New York City , † October 30, 1908 at Beechwood in Newport , Rhode Island ) was a legendary grande dame of New York and Newport society. Mrs. Caroline Astor dominated social life on the American east coast. Only those who were invited by her to the house ball were among the most important families in the USA at the end of the 19th century.

Life

Caroline Schermerhorn came from a wealthy merchant family , whose ancestors were among the first settlers of Dutch origin in New York. Her childhood revolved around perfect behavior and social representation. She was taught exclusively at home by governesses and tutors with the help of the grandfather's library .

In 1881 the Astor couple bought Beechwood Mansion in Newport and had the property remodeled for two million US dollars by the well-known architect Richard Morris Hunt . Beechwood became the center of Newport social life during the summer months.

The highlight of each season was the Astors' summer ball . Since the family's ballroom could only hold 400 people, Caroline Astor, with the help of Samuel Ward McAllister, developed the famous "Four Hundred" list. Only influential families and individuals whose lineage could be traced back at least three generations were on the list.

Marriage and offspring

In 1853, Caroline Schermerhorn married in New York the businessman William Backhouse Astor junior (1830-1892), the younger son of William Backhouse Astor and grandson of the legendary company founder Johann Jakob Astor . Five children emerged from the mutual connection:

  • Emily (1854–1881) ⚭ 1875 James J. van Alen
  • Helen Schermerhorn (1855–1893) ⚭ 1878 James Roosevelt Roosevelt
  • Charlotte Augusta (1858-1920)
⚭ 1891–1896 James Coleman Drayton
⚭ 1896 George Ogilvy Haig
  • Caroline Schermerhorn (1861–1948) ⚭ 1884 Marshall Orme Wilson
  • John Jacob IV (1864–1912 on the sinking of the Titanic )
⚭ 1891–1910 Ava Lowle Willing
⚭ 1911 Madeleine Talmage Force

literature

  • Katja Doubek: The Astors. Glory and misery of a legendary money dynasty . Piper, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-492-05098-2 .
  • Harry Graf Kessler : America . In: Ders .: faces and times (collected writings; vol. 1). Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verlag, Frankfurt / M. 1988, ISBN 3-596-25674-7 , pp. 239-256.

Web links

Commons : Caroline Schermerhorn Astor  - collection of images, videos and audio files
personal data
SURNAME Schermerhorn Astor, Caroline
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Caroline Schermerhorn; Caroline Astor
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Grand Dame of New York and Newport Society
DATE OF BIRTH September 22, 1830
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City
DATE OF DEATH October 30, 1908
Place of death Beechwood, Newport (Rhode Island)