By: HISTORY.com Editors

1908

Queen of American high society dies

HISTORY.com Editors

Published: February 09, 2010

Last Updated: May 27, 2025

Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, wife of businessman and racehorse breeder William Backhouse Astor, Jr., dies at the age of 78.

Even before her union with William Astor—the grandson of the American fur magnate John Jacob Astor—Caroline Schermerhorn was prime American aristocracy: She was the daughter of a wealthy merchant and descended from Dutch nobles.

Caroline’s death marked the end of old-style high society in New York City. She had ruled over the upper crust as an un-crowned American queen, and an invitation to one of Mrs. Astor’s famous balls was the ultimate symbol of one’s social rank.

A look at five generations of the colorful and wealthy family. Follows their story from its 18th-century beginnings, when fur trader John Jacob Astor became the richest man in the world.

7-DAY FREE TRIAL

Commercial-free,

Cancel anytime

Stream Now

Exclusions & terms apply

Timeline

Also on This Day in History

Discover more of the major events, famous births, notable deaths and everything else history-making that happened on October 30th

1735

John Adams is born

On October 30, 1735, John Adams, the son of a farmer and a descendant of Plymouth Rock pilgrims, is born in Braintree, Massachusetts. He enrolled in Harvard University at 16 and went on to teach school and study law before becoming America’s second president. Adams did not fight in the Revolutionary War, but was instrumental […]

2:44m read

1811

“Sense and Sensibility” is published

On October 30, 1811, Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility is published anonymously. A small circle of people, including the Prince Regent, learned Austen’s identity, but most of the British public knew only that the popular book had been written “by a Lady.” Austen was born in 1775, the seventh of eight children born to a […]

1:22m read

1864

The city of Helena, Montana, is founded after miners discover gold

On October 30, 1864, the town of Helena, Montana, is founded by four gold miners who struck it rich at the appropriately named “Last Chance Gulch.” The first major Anglo settlement of Montana had begun just two years before in the summer of 1862, when prospectors found a sizeable deposit of placer gold at Grasshopper […]

1905

George Bernard Shaw’s “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” premieres in New York, causing a scandal

On October 30, George Bernard Shaw’s play Mrs. Warren’s Profession, which dealt frankly with prostitution, is performed at the Garrick Theater in New York. The play, Shaw’s second, had been banned in Britain. After only one performance, puritanical authorities in New York had the play closed. On October 31, the producer and players were arrested […]

1:42m read

1918

Ottoman Empire signs treaty with Allies

On October 30, 1918, aboard the British battleship Agamemnon, anchored in the port of Mudros on the Aegean island of Lemnos, representatives of Great Britain and the Ottoman Empire sign an armistice treaty marking the end of Ottoman participation in the First World War. Though the Ottoman Empire—in a period of relative decline since the […]

1938

Orson Welles’s “War of the Worlds” radio play is broadcast

“The War of the Worlds”—Orson Welles's hyper-realistic radio dramatization of a Martian invasion of Earth—is broadcast on the radio, causing panic among some.

3:20m read

1948

Killer smog claims elderly victims

On October 30, 1948, killer smog hovering over Donora, Pennsylvania claims its first two victims. Over a five-day period, the smog killed about 20 people and made thousands more seriously ill. Donora was a town of 14,000 people on the Monongahela River in a valley surrounded by hills. The town was home to steel mills […]

2:14m read

1974

Muhammad Ali wins the Rumble in the Jungle

On October 30, 1974, 32-year-old Muhammad Ali becomes the heavyweight champion of the world for the second time when he knocks out 25-year-old champ George Foreman in the eighth round of the “Rumble in the Jungle,” a match in Kinshasa, Zaire. Seven years before, Ali had lost his title when the government accused him of […]

2:50m read

This Day In History: Muhammad Ali wins the Rumble in the Jungle

1991

“Perfect storm” intensifies in the North Atlantic

On October 30, 1991, the so-called “perfect storm” intensifies in the North Atlantic, producing remarkably large waves along the New England and Canadian coasts. Over the next several days, the storm spread its fury over the ocean off the coast of Canada. The fishing boat Andrea Gail and its six-member crew were lost in the […]

1:58m read

1995

Quebec separatists narrowly defeated

By a bare majority of 50.6 percent to 49.4 percent, citizens of the province of Quebec vote to remain within the federation of Canada. The referendum asked Quebec’s citizens, the majority of whom are French-speakers, to vote whether their province should begin the process that could make it independent of Canada. The French were the […]

1:22m read

Early 20th Century U.S.

The Wright Brothers’ Sister Played a Key Role in Their Success

Katharine Wright helped publicize her brothers' first-in-flight achievement and made sure they made it into the record books.

Early 20th Century U.S.

How the Horrific Tragedy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Led to Workplace Safety Laws

The 1911 factory blaze shocked the nation and spurred new regulations to protect factory workers.

A staged photo of a U.S. postman carrying a baby boy along with his letters, circa 1900s. (Credit: Vintage Images/Getty Images)

Early 20th Century U.S.

When People Used the Postal Service to ‘Mail’ Their Children

In the early days of U.S. parcel service, there weren’t clear guidelines about what you could and couldn’t mail.

Early 20th Century U.S.

How the History of Blackface Is Rooted in Racism

Blackface became popular in the U.S. after the Civil War as white performers played characters that demeaned and dehumanized African Americans.

See All Articles

About the author

HISTORY.com Editors

HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Articles with the “HISTORY.com Editors” byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan, Matt Mullen, Christian Zapata and Cristiana Lombardo.

Fact Check

We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.

Citation Information

Article title: Queen of American high society dies
Author: HISTORY.com Editors
Website Name: History
URL: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/october-30/queen-of-american-high-society-dies

Date Accessed: July 07, 2025
Publisher: A&E Television Networks
Last Updated: May 27, 2025
Original Published Date: February 09, 2010

History Every Day

Sign Up for "This Day in History"

Uncover fascinating moments from the past every day! Learn something new with key events in history, from the American Revolution to pop culture, crime and more.

By submitting your information, you agree to receive emails from HISTORY and A+E Global Media. You can opt out at any time. You must be 16 years or older and a resident of the United States.

More details: Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact Us