Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor

Sitterback to top

• Nancy Witcher Astor (née Langhorne), Viscountess Astor (1879-1964), Politician and wife of 2nd Viscount Astor; previous wife of R.G. Shaw; daughter of Chiswell Dabney Langhorne. Sitter in 33 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Herbert Samuel ('Bert') Thomas (1883-1966), Cartoonist. Artist of 3 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.

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A beautiful and impetuous divorcée from Virginia, Nancy Langhorne came to London in 1904, and, rejecting several other suitors, married the immensely rich Waldorf (later 2nd Viscount) Astor. By nature religious, she was converted to Christian Science in 1914. In 1919 her husband, on inheriting the peerage, was forced to vacate his seat in parliament. She won the ensuing by-election, and was the first woman to take a seat in the Commons. She showed little reverence for proceedings there, and was a frequent interrupter; so much so that on one occasion, when she claimed to have been listening for hours before making her interjection, a member exclaimed: 'Yes, we heard you listening!'.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 21