Astor Family

Wikipedia coverage: Read the full Wikipedia article, including its references. The material below is the existing Deep Politics Wiki article.

Family

Astor Family  link ()
File:Astor family-coat of arms.webp
Membership	Nancy Astor, Waldorf Astor, David Astor, William Waldorf Astor, John Jacob Astor
Wealthy British and American family.

The Astor family achieved prominence in business, society, and politics in the United States and the United Kingdom during the 19th and [[20^th century|20^th centuries]]. With ancestral roots in the Italian Alps, the Astors settled in Germany, first appearing in North America in the 18^th century with John Jacob Astor, one of the richest people in history, who made his wealth in the fur trade.

Drug trade

John Jacobs Astor joined the opium smuggling trade in 1816 when his American Fur Company bought 10 tons of Turkish opium and smuggled it into Canton. Seeking other sources of profit while faced with woes in the fur trade, he became the first American known to have entered the contraband Chinese opium trade and made a substantial profit before abruptly exiting the business three years later.