John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever
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John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever, born May 20, 1886 in New York City, United States – died July 19, 1971 in Cannes, France, was a military officer, statesman, a newspaper proprietor, and a member of the prominent Astor family.
Lord Astor of Hever was the fourth child of William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor (1848-1919) and Mary Dahlgren Paul (1858-1894). He was a boy of five when his family left New York to live in England. He was raised on an estate purchased by his father at Cliveden-on-Thames in Buckinghamshire and was educated at Eton College and at New College, Oxford.
He served in the British army during World War I, rising to the rank of Colonel and on August 28, 1916 married Violet Mary Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, (May 28, 1889-January 3, 1965), the daughter of the Earl of Minto.
On his father's passing in 1919, John Astor inherited Hever Castle near Edenbridge, Kent where he lived the life of an English country gentleman. In 1922, he purchased The Times newspaper following the death of its owner, Alfred Harmsworth (Lord Northcliffe). During his tenure as head of The Times, John Astor had the newspaper sponsor Edmund Hillary's expedition that made the first successful climb to the summit of Mount Everest. Astor remained chairman of the paper until 1959 when his son Gavin took over. In 1966, The Times was sold to Canadian newspaper tycoon, Roy Thomson.
In addition to his newspaper business, John Astor served in the Parliament of the United Kingdom for 23 years as a member of the House of Commons from 1922 to 1945 and in 1956, he was created Baron Astor of Hever.
On his passing in 1971 selected artworks from the family's vast collection were bequeathed to the National Gallery including the prized "Thames below Westminster" by Claude Monet.
John and Violet Astor are buried together on the grounds of Hever Castle, which, since 1983, has been owned by Broadland Porperties Limited and is a major tourist attraction.
Children:
- Gavin (1918-1984)
- Hugh Waldorf (b. 1920)
- John (MP for Newbury) (1923-1987)
| Preceded by: New Creation | Baron Astor of Hever | Succeeded by: Gavin Astor |