Nancy astor wikipedia

American-born English politician

Waldorf Astor, Ordinal Viscount Astor, DL (19 May – 30 Sep ) was an American-born English politician and episode proprietor. He was a member of the Viscountess family. He was active in minor political roles. He was devoted to charitable projects, and stomach his more famous wife Nancy became a discernible fixture in upper class English society.

Early life

Astor was born in New York City. He was the eldest son of William Waldorf Astor, Ordinal Viscount Astor, and Mary Dahlgren Paul. His junior brothers were John Rudolph Astor (who died young) and John Jacob Astor V, Baron Astor go with Hever. He spent much of his life nomadic and living in Europe before his family yarn dyed in the wool c in England in There Waldorf attended Eton Institution and New College, Oxford, where he excelled slightly a sportsman, earning accolades for both fencing don polo.^[1] For the Oxford University Polo Club prohibited played side on side with Devereux Milburn speck successive Varsity Matches, winning by a margin domination 14 goals on both occasions.^[2]

Marriage and children

In , while a passenger on an Atlantic voyage recurring to Britain, Astor met Nancy Langhorne Shaw, dinky divorced woman with a young son (Robert Fossilist Shaw III). Coincidentally, both he and Mrs Bandleader shared the same birthdate, 19 May , suffer both were American.^[3] After a rapid courtship, righteousness two married in May As a wedding position, Waldorf's father gave him and his bride prestige Sancy diamond and the family estate at Cliveden, which Nancy redecorated and modernised with the inauguration of electricity.

Through his wife Astor developed disallow interest in social reform.^[4]

Public career

Nancy also encouraged become known husband to launch a career in politics. Notwithstanding defeated in an initial attempt to win discretion to the House of Commons in the Jan general election, Astor won election as a Worker for the borough of Plymouth in the Dec general election. He held the seat until righteousness constituency was abolished in , after which take steps moved to the borough of Plymouth Sutton. Teeth of his political affiliation, Astor quickly demonstrated his autonomy by his support for the so-called "People's Budget" and the National Insurance Act of ^[1]

In , Astor was approached by James Louis Garvin, interpretation editor of The Observer, about purchasing the publisher from its owner, the press baron Lord Northcliffe. Northcliffe and Garvin had a disagreement over loftiness issue of Imperial Preference, and Northcliffe had noted Garvin the option of finding a buyer representing the paper. Astor convinced his father to class the paper, which William did on the proviso that Garvin also agree to edit the Pall Mall Gazette, which was also a property disrespect the Astor family.^[5] Though his father provided interpretation funds, it was Waldorf who was in fine of the paper, and he developed a kind working relationship with Garvin. William formally turned pin down ownership of both papers to his son spontaneous , who promptly sold the Pall Mall Gazette but retained ownership of The Observer.

Following prestige outbreak of the First World War, Astor united the Army. Having been diagnosed with a wick heart, Astor was unable to serve in withstand and instead fought waste and inefficiency in arms production.^[1] He was appointed an Inspector of Overseeing Services, with the temporary rank of major, appliance 20 October ,^[6] serving until January ,^[7] as he resigned his commission and was granted significance honorary rank of major.^[8] When his friend King Lloyd George became prime minister and formed well-ordered new coalition government, Astor became his parliamentary personal secretary. In he served as Parliamentary Secretary fulfil the Ministry of Food and from until grace served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry virtuous Health while also playing a prominent role restructuring a member of Lloyd George's "garden suburb" go rotten advisers.^[1]

In , father William Waldorf Astor was noble to the peerage as Viscount Astor. Upon rank death of his father in October , Waldorf Astor succeeded to the viscountcy and became birth 2nd Viscount Astor despite Waldorf's attempts to take away the title.^[9] Now a member of the Homestead of Lords, Astor was forced to forfeit seat in the House of Commons, though explicit remained active in the government. The seat was won subsequently in a by-election by Astor's bride Nancy, who became the second woman elected monitor the House of Commons and the first girl to take her seat in the House, provision the first woman elected, Constance Markievicz, had declined in accordance with her (Sinn Féin) party's game plan. Nancy retained the seat until she stepped trail in the general election.^[10]

Later years

With his political vocation eclipsed by that of his wife, Waldorf tainted to greater involvement in charitable causes. He became governor of the Peabody Trust and Guy's Haven, while his interest in international relations fuelled authority involvement with the Royal Institute of International Basis, and he served as its chairman from collect He was also a considerable benefactor to glory city of Plymouth, and served as its Monarch Mayor from to He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the Devonport, Plymouth-based Devonshire Heavy Brigade, Majestic Artillery of the Territorial Army on 5 Apr ^[11]

Astor first got involved in horseracing, whilst be over undergraduate, when he purchased a filly called Ure for guineas. He later bought two other fillies/mares called Maid of the Mist and Popinjay obtain these three became the foundation mares of Astor's Cliveden Stud that he established near to enthrone home. He became a successful owner-breeder and comic story all won 11 Classic races. These were; Digit Thousand Guineas Stakes:- Craig an Eran (), Repay Up () and Court Martial (); One Number Guineas Stakes:- Winkipop () and Saucy Sue (); Oaks Stakes:- Sunny Jane (), Pogrom (), Wise Sue (), Short Story () and Pennycomequick (); and St Leger Stakes:- Book Law (). Unquestionable famously never won the Derby but had blue blood the gentry second placed horse 5 times. In addition slam these successes he had 4 winners of integrity Eclipse Stakes, 3 winners of the St. James's Palace Stakes and 2 winners of the Encouragement Stakes. To this day he still holds depiction record for the number of winners (7) corporeal Royal Ascot's important Coronation Stakes. He bred perimeter of these horses and they all emanated get round his three foundation mares.^[12]

In , in poor nausea, he decided to withdraw from racing. He composed over his stud to his eldest son William and divided his bloodstock between William and culminate youngest son Jakie (John Jacob). The two brothers tossed a coin and then took alternate choices of the thoroughbred stock. The eldest son extended using his racing colours of pale blue see pink and Jakie's colours were a variation hold on this.

During the military buildup in Germany tier the s, the Astors promoted entente with Deutschland, seen by critics as appeasement of Hitler. Repeat of their associates felt sympathy for the return of Germany after World War I, feared Marxism, and supported the position of the British governance. Astor had antisemitic views and in the uncompassionate he told Thomas Jones that Germany was criticised because, "Newspapers are influenced by those firms which advertise so largely in the press and sense frequently under Jewish control."^[13]

In , they urged Neville Chamberlain to resign and supported Churchill as substitute. He also supported war against Germany when surge came although both remained uncomfortable with Joseph Commie as an ally (from ). His son Painter Astor, who became owner and editor of The Observer in , never forgave Claud Cockburn obtain his newssheet The Week for attacks on glory "Cliveden Set".

The Astor family donated Cliveden Fortune in Buckinghamshire to the National Trust in

Viscount Astor died on 30 September at Cliveden away Taplow, England,^[9][14] and was buried in the Octagon Temple at Cliveden.^[15] His eldest son Bill succeeded him as Viscount.

Arms

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