This article examines the biography of John Jacob Astor, one of the most prominent American entrepreneurs of the late eighteenth and first half of the nineteenth century. In historiography, Astor remains a controversial figure whose life has been surrounded by numerous myths and anecdotes that lack a reliable evidentiary foundation. Consequently, his personality continues to attract the attention of both professional historians and the general public. Born in a small German village near the Rhine River, John Jacob Astor realized at an early age his ambition to establish his own business in the New World. At the age of seventeen, he left his family home to pursue this goal. The main body of the article traces the principal stages of Astor's life and career on his path toward achieving the «American Dream.» Beyond becoming the individual who transformed American entrepreneurship in his era and the first millionaire in the United States, Astor also emerges as a figure committed to contributing to the nation's broader development. Among his most significant achievements were the establishment of trading posts on the Pacific Coast, most notably Fort Astoria; the organization of the overland expedition of 1810—1812, which helped open a route through the Rocky Mountains; his role in the expansion of New York City; and his influence on the city's architectural and social development. One of the least studied aspects of John Jacob Astor's life is his membership in the Masonic fraternity, as well as the limited attention this subject has received in historical scholarship. The present article seeks to shed new light on this overlooked dimension of his biography.
Source: Kravtsova, Evgeniуa V. (2026). John Jacob Astor (1763–1848): Businessman, Freemason, and Architect of the American Dream. Recorder. 2(3): 336-343.
Source web-site: https://easteuropeanhistory.org/journals_n/1783561924.pdf
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