Nancy Astor

Date of Birth: May 19, 1879

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: May 2, 1964

Biography

Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor, Viscountess Astor, was a pioneering British politician who made history as the first woman to take a seat in the British House of Commons. Born into a wealthy American family on May 19, 1879, in Danville, Virginia, Nancy Langhorne moved to England after her first marriage ended in divorce. She later married Waldorf Astor, the 2nd Viscount Astor, and became deeply involved in British high society and politics. Nancy succeeded her husband as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Plymouth Sutton when he ascended to the House of Lords. She served as an MP from 1919 to 1945, during which she championed various social issues, including women’s rights, temperance, and child welfare. Known for her sharp wit and strong views, Nancy Astor left an indelible mark on British politics and society.

5 Interesting Facts about Nancy Astor

1. Nancy Astor was the first woman to take her seat in the British House of Commons.

2. She was an advocate for temperance and opposed the consumption of alcohol.

3. Nancy Astor’s home, Cliveden, became a political and social hub, frequented by notable figures such as Winston Churchill and George Bernard Shaw.

4. She was known for her strong anti-Catholic views, which often sparked controversy.

5. Nancy Astor was a member of the Conservative Party and served as MP for Plymouth Sutton for 26 years.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Nancy Astor

1. “I married beneath me. All women do.”

2. “I refuse to admit that I am more than fifty-two, even if that does make my sons illegitimate.”

3. “The main dangers in this life are the people who want to change everything—or nothing.”

4. “Real education should educate us out of self into something far finer; into a selflessness which links us with all humanity.”

5. “We are not asking for superiority for we have always had that; all we ask is equality.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Nancy Astor’s highest net worth is not precisely documented, but as a member of the prominent Astor family, she was part of one of the wealthiest families in Britain, with the family’s net worth estimated in the tens of millions during her time.

Children

Nancy Astor had six children: 1. Robert Gould Shaw III (from her first marriage to Robert Gould Shaw II) 2. William Waldorf Astor II 3. Nancy Phyllis Louise Astor 4. Francis David Langhorne Astor 5. Michael Langhorne Astor 6. John Jacob Astor VII