Vincent Astor

William Vincent Astor (November 15, 1891 – February 3, 1959) was an American businessman, philanthropist, and member of the prominent Astor family. Early life Called Vincent, he was born in New York City on November 15, 1891. Astor was the elder child of John Jacob Astor IV, a wealthy businessman and inventor, and his first wife, Ava Lowle Willing, an heiress from Philadelphia. He graduated in 1910 from St. George's School in Middletown, Rhode Island, and attended Harvard College from 1911 to 1912, leaving school without graduating. In 1912 Vincent Astor's father, John Jacob Astor IV died on the Titanic and left him the biggest fortune at that time and made Vincent Astor one of the richest people in the world. Interests Like his father, Astor belonged to the New York Society of Colonial Wars. Having joined the U.S. Naval Reserve Force prior to America's entry to the First World War, he was called to active duty on April 7, 1917, and was later promoted to Lieutenant. As executive officer aboard the armed yacht USS Aphrodite he saw service escorting convoys and was aboard when she struck a mine on January 10, 1919. Subsequently, Astor was made commodore of the New York Yacht Club from 1928 to 1930.