Astor (II)
JOHN JACOB, an American capitalist, born in Rhinebeck , N. Y., July 13, 1864; great grandson of John Jacob, graduated from Harvard University in 1888. In 1897 he built the Astoria Hotel in New York, adjoining the Waldorf Hotel, which had been built by his cousin, William Waldorf Astor, and subsequently the two were united under the name of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. He was appointed Colonel on the staff of Gov. Morton; was commissioned a Lieutenant -Colonel of Volunteers in May, 1898 , and served on inspection and staff duty in the United States and Cuba till the surrender of Santiago. He published "A Journey to Other Worlds"; "A Romance of the Future" (1894). Died in the wreck of the "Titanic," April 15, 1912.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Astor (III)
WILLIAM WALDORF, capitalist, born in New York City, March 31, 1848; received a private education; was admitted to the bar in 1875. He was elected to the New York Assembly in 1871, and to the Senate in 1879; was defeated for Congress in 1881, and was United States Minister to Italy in 1882- 1885. On the death of his father, John Jacob Astor, in 1890, he became the head of the Astor family, and inherited a fortune said to aggregate $100,000,000. He removed to England in 1890; became the owner of the "Pall Mall Gazette" and "Pall Mall Magazine"; and was naturalized a British subject on July 1, 1899. He published "Valentino" (1885) and "Sforza" (1889), both romances. He gave considerable sums to English charities and colleges and was made a peer in 1916. Died in London, Oct. 18, 1919.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Astor (LADY NANCY the second woman)
LADY NANCY, the second woman to be elected to the British Parliament and the first woman to take actually her seat. She stood as the Conservative candidate for Plymouth in 1919 and was elected by a considerable margin over Liberal and Labor candidates. Her campaign was notable for the wit and spirit of her speeches. She is an American by birth and is the wife of Lord Waldorf Astor She is the mother of six children. She has spoken briefly several times in Parliament on pending questions.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Astor Place Riot
a fatal affray which took place in New York City, May 10, 1849, in which the participants were the partisans of the actors, Edwin Forrest and William C. Macready. Twenty-two were killed and 36 wounded.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Astoria
a city of Oregon, the countyseat of Clatsop co., on the Columbia river, about 100 miles N. W. of Portland, and on the Spokane, Portland, and Seattle railroad. It is connected with foreign and domestic ports by several steamship lines. The city has an excellent water front, about five miles in length. It is the center of an important salmon canning industry, and has iron works, lumber mills, can factories, and other industrial establishments. A large export trade in lumber and flour is carried on. There is a custom house, postoffice, parks, library, hospitals, and other handsome public buildings. Lewis and Clarke established a fort here, and it was later the site of the fur trading station built in 1811 by John Jacob Astor. It was the first settlement in the valley of the Columbia river. Pop. (1910) 9,599; (1920) 14,027. ASTRÆIDE, in zoölogy, a family of radiated animals belonging to the class polypi and the order helianthoida. It is especially to this family that the formation of coral reefs is to be attributed. It contains the genera astræa, meandrina, etc.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Astraea
A daughter of Astraeus, king of Arcadia , or, according to others, daughter of Titan and Aurora . Some make her daughter of Jupiter and Themis . She was called Justice, of which virtue she was the goddess.
Only in 1000 Classical Characters
Astragal
in architecture, a small semi-circular molding, with a fillet beneath it, which surrounds a column in the form of a ring, separating the shaft from the capital.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Astragalus
the upper bone of the foot supporting the tibia; the huckle, ankle, or sling bone. It is a strong, irregularly-shaped bone, and is connected with the others by powerful ligaments.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Astragalus
a genus of papilionaceous plants, herbaceous or shrubby, and often spiny. A. gummifer yields gum tragacanth.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Astrakhan
as tra-kan, a name given to the skins of a species of Russian sheep, the distinguishing characteristics of which are short, fine, soft, closely curled wool. The skins which form the fur used for coats, sacques, muffs, etc., are from young lambs reared in the mountainous districts of Astrakhan. Astrakhan cloth is woven in much the same way as velvet or plush. An extra pile-warp of lustrous wool or mohair is added to a single cloth. If the curly effect of the real wool is desired, this warp or pile which is to form the face of the finished fabric is crimped or twisted before weaving. This crimping is done by machinery, and is "set" or made permanent by a steaming process. These crimped threads are then woven over wires in the form of loops, which are cut, or left uncut, according to the effect desired. Sometimes part of the loops are cut and a part left uncut, producing a variety of novelties for cloakings and other purposes. See Weaving ; Fur 2026 Editor's Note: Astrakhan — 'Persian lamb' fur — is now shadowed by controversy: the smoothest grade, broadtail , comes from lambs taken before or just after birth, and animal-welfare campaigns have driven it, like much of the fur trade, out of mainstream fashion. The imitation woven cloth the entry describes long ago outstripped the real t hing . (Ed: BR 2026-06-13)
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Astrakhan
as-tra-kan, a chief city of the Volga basin. It is situated about thirty miles above the entrance of that river into the Caspian Sea . It is a dirty, ill-smelling city, with crooked, broad streets and irregular rows of houses. A cathedral is the only edifice of importance. A number of bridges span the river. Astrakhan carries on an immense trade in fish, caviare, and isinglass. The number of people engaged in the Caspian fisheries which have their center at Astrakhan is variously estimated at from fifteen to thirty thousand persons. There are also important manufactures of silks, woolens, cottons, soap, morocco leather, and shagreen. The curly, woolly sheepskins of Persia and Syria are called astrakhan from the fact that the pelts, tanned and ready for making overcoats and other garments, were obtained originally from this city, Population, 113,000. See Caspian; Sturgeon 2026 Editor's Note: Astrakhan is still synonymous with caviar, but its glory has dimmed: the Caspian sturgeon that yield it were fished and poached to the brink, and most caviar now comes from farms. The 'ill-smelling' fis hing city guards the Volga's vast delta, one of Europe's great wetlands and birding grounds. (Ed: BR 2026-07-19)
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia