Cause of death cancer Name Gavin 2nd | ||
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Born 1 June 1918 ( 1918-06-01 ) Spouse(s) Lady Irene Haig(1945—1984; his death) Relatives William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor (grandfather)Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto (grandfather)Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor (uncle)George Petty-Fitzmaurice, 8th Marquess of Lansdowne (half-brother)John Astor (brother)William Astor, 3rd Viscount Astor (cousin)Francis David Langhorne Astor (cousin)Michael Langhorne Astor (cousin)Jakie Astor (cousin) Children John Astor, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever Parents Violet Astor, John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever Grandparents William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor, Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto Great-grandparents John Jacob Astor III, Emma Hislop, Augusta Gibbs, William Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 3rd Earl of Minto |
Gavin Astor, 2nd Baron Astor of Hever (1 June 1918 – 28 June 1984), was an English soldier, publisher, peer, and member of the Astor family.
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Biography
Astor was the eldest son of John Jacob Astor, 1st Baron Astor of Hever (1886–1971), and Lady Violet Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound (1889–1965). He had two younger brothers, Hugh (1920–1999) and John (1923–1987). His mother had two children, Mary (1910–2003) and George (1912–1997), from her previous marriage to Lord Charles Petty-Fitzmaurice (1874–1914).
He was educated at Eton College and New College, Oxford, before joining the Life Guards, where he reached the rank of captain.
Business positions included the chairmanship of the Times Publishing Company and life presidency of Times Newspapers Ltd. He was appointed High Sheriff of Sussex in 1955.
He inherited the barony and Hever Castle in Kent on the death of his father in 1971.
In 1955, he founded the Astor of Hever Trust, a charity aimed to collect donations for arts, medicine, religion, education, conservation, youth, and sport.
Marriage and children
Astor married Lady Irene Haig (1919–2001), youngest daughter of Field Marshal Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig (1861–1928), and Dorothy Maud Vivian (1879–1939), on 4 October 1945. They had five children:
Astor died of cancer in 1984 at his home near Tarland, Scotland. He was succeeded in the barony by his eldest son Johnny.