William Backhouse Astor (1792-1875)

His elder brother was not cut out for business which made William his father's protégé. He was sent to Germany for his education before entering the China trade. However, it was in real estate that his talents lay and he significantly expanded on the family's holdings in Manhattan, becoming known as "The Landlord of New York". He also married into New York aristocracy which immediately elevated the Astor family from the realms of upstarts to established members of New York society. In 1867, an article appeared in the Galaxy listing the ten wealthiest men in New York. He came top of the list with a fortune estimated at $16,114,000 which was over eight million more than the man who came in second (William C. Rhinelander).