Nancy Astor Biography

Nancy Witcher Astor (Viscountess Astor), famously known as Lady Astor, was the first woman to take seat as a Member of Parliament in the British House of Commons. She belonged to a family of ex-slave owners in Virginia, United States, and was raised in an upper-class environment. Her unfortunate and disastrous first marriage to a drunken army commander led her to English countryside in search of peace and direction. After this she soon became famous in the elite class for her intelligence, wit and charm. It was her second marriage to the Viscount Astor that gave her an opportunity to contest in the Westminster Parliament. Although her lack of political background, elite upbringing up and a strong Christian Science views were held against her during the elections, she still managed to win the seat in 1919, courtesy her incredible work for soldiers during WWI and the money she could afford to spend on campaigning. In her newly found political position, Lady Astor effectively introduced the Intoxicating Liquor (Sale to Persons under 18) raising the legal age for consuming alcohol in public from 14 to 18. She always had a controversial public image, which eventually worked against her, for she was publically expressive about her anti-Semitic views, sympathy for the Nazis, anti-catholic ideas and disregard for the minorities.