John Jacob and his brother George, born in Walldorf left Germany and moved to London in 1778.

[4] In 1783, John Jacob left for Baltimore, Maryland, leaving his brother in charge of the London business, and was active first as a dealer in woodwind instruments, then in New York as a merchant in opium, furs, pianos, and real estate.

He financed the overland Astor Expedition in 1810–1812 to reach the outpost, which was in the then-disputed Oregon Country.

Control of Fort Astoria played a key role in English and American territorial claims on the region.

Henry was a horse racing enthusiast, and purchased a thoroughbred named Messenger, who had been brought from England to America in 1788.

Toward the end of that century, some of the family moved from America to England and achieved high prominence there.

Beyond New York City, the Astor family name is imprinted in a great deal of United States history and geography.

There are towns of Astor in the states of Florida, Georgia, Iowa, and Kansas and there are Astorias in Illinois, Missouri, and Oregon.

At one time the Oakwood Park Estate also contained an educational farm attached to the Astor of Hever School.

In addition, a dormitory at St. George's School in Newport, Rhode Island, bears Astor's name.