Born in New York City, William Backhouse Astor, Sr. inherited the bulk of his father's estate and also that of his uncle Henry Astor who had died a wealthy man but without children.
Born in New York City, William Backhouse Astor, Sr. studied at the German University of Göttingen, where he joined the student fencing fraternity Curonia. He inherited the bulk of his father's estate and also that of his uncle Henry Astor who had died a wealthy man but without children.