John Jacob Astor was 47 years old. Divorced from his first wife, he had recently re-married 18 year old Madeleine Force and was returning from honeymooning in Europe, chosen to escape the gossip.

After Titanic struck the iceberg the Astors waited in the gymnasium while women and children were loaded into the lifeboats. John Astor did not believe that the Titanic would sink and did not approach the lifeboats until 1.45am. 

Astor watched his wife leave the ship in lifeboat 4. He then stood alone on the boat deck.

John Astor did not survive the disaster.

Created July 2002

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