Madeleine Astor
| Madeleine Astor | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Madeleine Talmage Force June 19, 1893 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | March 27, 1940 (aged 46) Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Heart ailment (Atherosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease, CAD) |
| Resting place | Trinity Church Cemetery |
| Education | Miss Ely's School Miss Spence's School |
| Spouse(s) |
John Jacob Astor IV (m. 1911; d. 1912) William Karl Dick (m. 1916; div. 1933) Enzo Fiermonte (m. 1933; div. 1938) |
| Children | 3; including John Jacob Astor VI |
| Relatives | Katherine Emmons Force (sister) |
Madeleine Talmage Force Astor (June 19, 1893 – March 27, 1940) was an American socialite and a survivor of the RMS Titanic. She was also the second wife and widow of businessman John Jacob Astor IV.
Madeleine Talmage Force was born on June 19, 1893, in Brooklyn, New York. She was the younger daughter of William Hurlbut Force (1852–1917) and Katherine Arvilla Talmage (1863–1930). Madeleine's elder sister Katherine Emmons Force was a real estate businesswoman and socialite. Through father William, she and Katherine had French ancestry and were grandnieces of builder Ephraim S. Force (1822 – March 12, 1914). Mother Katherine had Dutch ancestry.
William Hurlbut Force was a member of a well established business family. He owned the successful shipping firm William H. Force and Co and his father had been prosperous in the manufacturing industry. In 1889, Force married Katherine Talmage who was the granddaughter of Thomas Talmage, a former Mayor of Brooklyn. The Forces were part of the Brooklyn high society, while William Force was a member of numerous prestigious clubs in this city. He also owned a notable art collection. The family were members of the Episcopal Church which was also the church of the Astor family.
She was educated at Miss Ely’s School and then for four years at Miss Spence's School, which was located at West 48th Street in Manhattan. According to one report she was “counted an especially brilliant pupil” at this school. She was also taken abroad with her sister Katherine by her mother and toured Europe several times. When she was introduced to New York social life she was immediately adopted by the "Junior League" which was a clique of debutantes. She appeared in several New York society plays and attracted quite a following. She was known to be a very competent horsewoman and enjoyed yachting. One report said that she was bright and good with drawing-room conversation.
She met Colonel John Jacob "Jack" Astor IV, the only son of businessman William Backhouse Astor, Jr. and socialite Caroline Webster "Lina" Schermerhorn. During their courtship he took her on automobile drives and yacht trips and they were often followed by the press. They became engaged in August 1911 and were married on September 9, 1911. There was a considerable amount of opposition to his marriage not only because of their age difference but also since Astor had divorced his first wife only two years previously in November 1909. Many were opposed to divorce at this time and felt that if people were divorced they should not be allowed to remarry. Some Episcopalian Ministers refused to perform the ceremony. The couple were eventually married at Beechwood which was his mansion in Newport, by a Minister of the Congregational Church. His son William Vincent Astor served as best man.
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