An often-forgotten survivor of the Titanic was John Jacob “Jakey” Astor VI, the “Titanic Baby,” who was in his mother’s womb when the ship sank, and his father perished in the wreck, on April 15, 1912.

The son of honeymooners Madeleine and John Jacob Astor IV, he was born four months later in New York. He may have had a chip on his shoulder since another Astor, born shortly before he was, got the V designation. He is pictured, with his mother.

During Jakey’s lifetime he was widely known for his legal battles with his older half-brother, William Vincent Astor (known as Vincent), over their father’s estate, which was probably around $100 million (almost $3.3 billion now).

When their father died, his will did not treat his new family fairly. Madeleine received an annual income from a $5 million trust, and other perks, as long as she didn’t marry again. Jakey received a $3 million bequest, held in trust until he turned 21.

Vincent loathed both his stepmother and Jakey with equal measure, even refusing to believe Jakey was an Astor. When Vincent died, childless, he left his half-brother nothing of their father’s vast estate; everything went to Vincent’s widow and third wife, Roberta Brooke Astor (known as Brooke). Coincidentally, he was her third husband.

Jakey, feeling cheated, sued Brooke for what he felt was his rightful inheritance, contending that she plied Victor with liquor to influence him to favor her in his will. Which was quite plausible, since Vincent was an alcoholic. Jakey won, all right, but only $250,000; the Astor millions stayed with Brooke and Vincent’s foundation.

Aside from filing family lawsuits, Jakey was also notorious for being engaged several times and marrying four times. 

He died in 1992, leaving a daughter, Mary Jacqueline Astor, and three heirs to carry on the family name: a son, William Backhouse Astor III, and two grandsons, William Backhouse Astor IV and Gregory Todd Astor.