William Astor, 4th Viscount Astor
English businessman and politician (born 1951)
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William Waldorf Astor III, 4th Viscount Astor (born 27 December 1951) is an English businessman, hereditary peer, politician and former member of the House of Lords who sat as Conservative. He is a member of the prominent Astor family.
The Viscount Astor | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for National Heritage | |
| In office 20 July 1994 – 6 July 1995 | |
| Prime Minister | John Major |
| Preceded by | Iain Sproat |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Inglewood |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security | |
| In office 16 September 1993 – 20 July 1994 | |
| Prime Minister | John Major |
| Preceded by | Ann Widdecombe |
| Succeeded by | James Arbuthnot |
| Lord-in-waiting Government Whip | |
| In office 11 October 1990 – 16 September 1993 | |
| Prime Minister | Margaret Thatcher John Major |
| Preceded by | The Lord Cavendish of Furness |
| Succeeded by | The Lord MacKay of Ardbrecknish |
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| Hereditary peerage 7 March 1966 – 11 November 1999 | |
| Preceded by | The 3rd Viscount Astor |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Elected Hereditary Peer 11 November 1999 – 29 April 2026 | |
| Election | 1999 |
| Preceded by | Seat established |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Waldorf Astor III 27 December 1951 |
| Party | Conservative |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents | |
| Relatives | Astor family |
| Eton College | |
| Occupation | Politician, businessman |
Biography
Astor was a Lord-in-waiting (a House of Lords whip) from 1990 to 1993. He was then made a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Social Security. In 1994, he moved to the Department of National Heritage where he served until leaving the government in 1995.
He was a member of the Founding Council of the Rothermere American Institute at the University of Oxford.[1]
Viscount Astor is co-founder and former Chairman of Silvergate Media (now Sony Pictures Television Kids) and director of Networkers Plc (since 2007) and trustee of Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham.
Political positions
Marriage and children
Astor married Annabel Lucy Veronica Jones (born 1948), daughter of Timothy Angus Jones and Patricia David Pandora Clifford on 14 January 1976. They have three children:
- Hon Flora Katherine Astor (born 7 June 1976). She is married to Theo Rycroft. They have three children.
- Hon William Waldorf "Will" Astor IV (born 18 January 1979). He is married to Lohralee Stutz. They have four children.
- Hon James Jacob "Jake" Astor (born 4 March 1981). He is married to Victoria L. Hargreaves. They have two children.
The heir to the viscountcy is his elder son, Will.[3]
His wife Annabel's stepfather was his uncle Michael Langhorne Astor.
Viscountess Astor was previously married to Sir Reginald Sheffield, 8th Baronet by whom she is the mother of Samantha Cameron, wife of former Prime Minister David Cameron.
Arms
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