Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor

Nancy Witcher Astor, Viscountess Astor (May 19, 1879 – May 2, 1964) was a socialite politician and a member of the prominent Astor family.

New York

This showed most in the time she spent with her in New York. Nancy went to a finishing school there as well. The people of New York City mostly deemed her a rustic fool. Her sister alleviated this by showing her classmates that Nancy had a glamorous sister who would take her to the trendiest parts of New York. Unfortunately that side of New York led to her first husband, Bob Shaw. He would prove to be the most disastrous thing she found in New York.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The reason for her marriage being disastrous is much disputed. Those who side with him insist that she was flirtatious while dating, but puritanical and rigid once married. Her side contends that soon after the marriage he became a full blown alcoholic who cheated on her. What seems undisputed is that the marriage lasted four years and produced one son. That she left him numerous times during, the first being at the honey moon. That it ended after her initial opposition to divorce by the condition that his adultery be stated as the cause of the divorce.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Further tragedy came in 1903 when her mother died. The void she left in the family as a peace maker proved difficult to fill and Nancy lacked the skill to do it. Her attempts to try to run Mirador while her mother had been away had been even less successful.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On a tour of England she grew to love the place. She even met the Astor family, but did not yet meet her future husband. Another tie to England came at home in America. A British visitor named Angus McDonald grew quite fond of her and eventually even stayed in her brother?s room in Mirador. He adored her in a way that made her uncomfortable, but she used that to her advantage regardless.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

These events all lead her more and more toward Britain. After initial reluctance she moved their on her father's advice. He suggested it would be in keeping with her mother?s wishes and also would be good for her younger sister Phyllis. These things combined with her own needs convinced her.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~