John Astor (1923–1987)

John Astor (26 September 1923 – 27 December 1987) was a British Conservative politician.

The Honourable
John Astor
Member of Parliament
for Newbury
In office
1964–1974
Preceded byAnthony Hurd
Succeeded byMichael McNair-Wilson
Personal details
Born(1923-09-26)26 September 1923
Died27 December 1987(1987-12-27) (aged 64)
Inkpen, Berkshire, England
NationalityBritish
Political partyConservative
Spouses
Diana Kathleen Drummond
​
​
(m. 1950; died 1982)​
    Penelope Eve Bradford
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1982)​
    Children3
    Parents
    RelativesAstor family
    Alma materEton College

    Early life

    John was the youngest of three sons born to John Jacob Astor V, 1st Baron Astor of Hever (1886–1971)[1] and Lady Violet Mary Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound (1889–1965). He had two elder brothers, Gavin Astor, who inherited his father's barony, and Hugh Astor.[2] His mother had two children, Mary Petty-Fitzmaurice, and George Petty-Fitzmaurice, from her first marriage to Lord Charles Petty-Fitzmaurice who was killed in action at Ypres. His elder half-brother George later became the 8th Marquess of Lansdowne[3]

    His paternal grandparents were American born William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor, and his wife, Mary Dahlgren Paul. His maternal grandparents were Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto and his wife Lady Mary Caroline Grey.

    He was educated at Summerfields and Eton College.

    Career

    During World War II he served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was a Berkshire County Councillor from 1953 and an alderman from 1960.[1]

    Astor was elected as a Conservative MP for Newbury in the 1964 general election. He was re-elected twice, in 1966 and 1970, but stood down before the first February 1974 general election.[1] In 1970, he was appointed to the position of Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of Overseas Development.[3][4]

    Personal life

    In 1950, he married Diana Kathleen Drummond (1926–1982),[1] a daughter of George Henry Drummond and Helena Kathleen Holt. Helena was a niece of civil engineer Herbert Samuel Holt.[5] They had three children, two sons and a daughter, including:[1]

    • Elizabeth Kathleen Astor (1951-2023)
    • John Richard Astor (1953–2016), who married Katherine Mary Darell in 1977.[6]
    • George David Astor (born 1958), who married Marianne Julia Piroska Leche (1958-2019) in 1983.

    In 1982, he married Penelope Eve Bradford (d. 2006). They had no children and lived at Kirby House, Inkpen, Berkshire.[1]

    Astor died at Kirby House in Berkshire on 27 December 1987.[7] Penelope died on 31 December 2006.[8]

    References
    1. Astor, Hon. John. 1 December 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U161594. ISBN 978-0-19-954089-1. Retrieved 11 December 2017. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
    2. Erlandson, Robert A. (24 January 1983). "Castle of Henry VIII (and Astors) sold". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
    3. "Astor of Hever, Baron (UK, 1956)". Cracroft's Peerage. Heraldic Media. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
    4. "Hon. John Astor". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Retrieved 11 December 2017.
    5. "Diana Drummond". Ancestry. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
    6. Scott, Lieutenant Colonel H S J. "Captain J R Astor | Late The Life Guards". guardsmagazine.com. The Guards Magazine. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
    7. "OBITUARY". The Guardian. 29 December 1987. p. 24. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
    8. "LANSDOWNE". Telegraph Announcements. Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
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