bank secrets

[--Pete]

Hi,

BEIC took over from him in the mid to late 19th century. In the first part, it was really his groups that were doing the majority of it, that's why he's listed as the wealthiest drug runner ever.

Interesting. Not what I had remembered, so I checked Wiki. Astor is not mentioned in the article on the Opium War. The article on Astor only mentions the opium trade in a footnote (In 1816, John Jacob Astor of New York City joined the opium smuggling trade. His American Fur Company purchased ten tons of Turkish opium, then shipped the contraband item to Canton on the Packet Ship Macedonian. Astor would later leave the China opium trade and sell solely to England.) which makes it sound like he wasn't involved in it much.

I realize that my references are to Wiki, and all that means. However, years ago I read a couple of books on Chinese history which (of course) included the Opium Wars and don't remember Astor figuring in them at all. The history I remember is more like the outline at this PBS site.

So, it would seem that Astor was indeed involved in the opium trade, but his involvement seems small potatoes compared both to his other investments and the involvement of others. He was indeed very wealthy. Thus, I guess, he could qualify "as the wealthiest drug runner ever." though that seems a bit misleading.

Since my references are web based, they could be suspect. I'd like to hear anything you have backing up your version of the story. Might be a nice background feud behind it;)

--Pete