Editing John Jacob Astor (section)

===Real estate and retirement===
Astor began buying land in New York City in 1799 and acquired sizable holdings along the waterfront. After the start of the 19th century, flush with [[Old China Trade|China trade]] profits, he became more systematic, ambitious, and calculating by investing in New York real estate. In 1803, he bought a 70-acre farm on which he built the Astor Mansion at Hellgate. The property ran west of [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]] to the Hudson River between [[42nd Street (Manhattan)|42nd]] and 46th streets. That same year, and the following year, he bought considerable holdings from the disgraced [[Aaron Burr]].<ref>Burrows, Edwin G.; Wallace, Mike (1998). ''Gotham A History of New York City to 1898''. Oxford University Press. p. 337. {{ISBN|978-0-19-511634-2}}</ref>

In the 1830s, Astor foresaw that the next big boom would be the build-up of New York, which would soon emerge as one of the world's greatest cities. Astor sold his interests in the American Fur Company, as well as all his other ventures, and used the money to buy and develop large tracts of [[Manhattan Island]] real estate. Astor correctly predicted the city's rapid growth northward on the island, and he purchased more and more land beyond the then-existing city limits. Astor rarely built on his land, but leased it to others for rent and their use. After retiring from his business, Astor spent the rest of his life as a patron of culture. He supported the [[ornithologist]] [[John James Audubon]] in his studies, artwork, and travels, and the presidential campaign of [[Henry Clay]].<ref name="Madsen"/>