Peerage Record – 8155

     Edward Frederick Croft Murray was born on 1 September 1907.¹ He was the son of Bernard Croft Murray and Amy James.² He married, firstly, Contessina Giovanna Zaffi, daughter of Count unknown Zaffi.¹ He married, secondly, Rosemary Jill Whitford-Hawkey, daughter of Captain E. H. Whitford-Hawkey, in 1960.¹ He died on 18 September 1980 at age 73.
     He was educated at Lancing College, Lancing, Sussex, England.¹ He graduated from Magdalen College, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)¹ He was Assistant Keeper, Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum between 1933 and 1953.¹ He was with the Admiralty between 1939 and 1940.¹ He was appointed Fellow, Society of Antiquaries (F.S.A.) in 1940.³ He was Civilian Officer with Military Intelligence, War Office between 1940 and 1943.¹ He gained the rank of Major between 1943 and 1946 in the Allied Control Commission (Monuments and Fine Arts Section) in Italy and Austria.¹ He was Deputy Keeper, Department of Prints and Drawings, British Museum between 1953 and 1954.¹ He was appointed Commander, Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.) in 1966.¹ He lived at Croft Castle, Leominster, Herefordshire, England.¹

     Hon. Flora Katherine Astor was born on 7 June 1976.¹ She is the daughter of William Waldorf Astor, 4th Viscount Astor and Annabel Lucy Veronica Jones.¹ She married Alexander Theophilus Rycroft, son of Henry David Rycroft and Nicole Elizabeth Kenig, in September 2006.²
     From September 2006, her married name became Rycroft.²

     Major Hon. Sir John Jacob Astor was born on 29 August 1918.¹ He was the son of Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor and Nancy Witcher Langhorne.¹ He married, firstly, Ana Inez Carcano y Morra, daughter of Dr. Don Miguel Angel Carcano and Stella de Morra, on 23 October 1944.¹ He and Ana Inez Carcano y Morra were divorced in 1972.¹ He married, secondly, Susan Eveleigh, daughter of Major Michael Eveleigh, in 1976.¹ He and Susan Eveleigh were divorced in 1985.¹ He married, thirdly, Marcia (?) in 1988.¹ He died on 10 September 2000 at age 82.²
     Major Hon. Sir John Jacob Astor also went by the nick-name of Jackie.² He was educated at Eton College, Windsor, Berkshire, England^G.¹ He was educated at New College, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England^G.¹ He gained the rank of Major in the Life Guards.¹ He fought in the Second World War, in Italy, France, Germany and Norway.¹ He wrote the book Chevalier, Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur.¹ He was appointed Member, Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) in 1945.¹ He was awarded the Croix de Guerre.¹ He held the office of Parliamentary Private Secretary between 1951 and 1953, to the Finance Secretary of Treasury.¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) (Conservative) for Surrey between 1951 and 1959.¹ He held the office of Justice of the Peace (J.P.) for Cambridgeshire between 1960 and 1974.¹ He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of Cambridgeshire in 1962.¹ He held the office of High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely in 1967.¹ He was appointed Knight in 1978.¹ He was awarded the Emergency Reserve Decoration (E.R.D.) in 1989 (Army.)¹ He lived in 1999 at The Dower House, Hatley Park, Hatley St. George, Bedfordshire, England^G.¹

     Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor was born on 19 May 1879 at New York, U.S.A.^G.¹ He was the son of William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor and Mary Dahlgren Paul.¹ He married Nancy Witcher Langhorne, daughter of Chiswell Dabney Langhorne and Nancy Witcher Keen, on 3 May 1906.¹ He died on 30 September 1952 at age 73.³
     He was educated at Eton College, Windsor, Berkshire, England^G.¹ He graduated from New College, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England^G, with a Master of Arts (M.A.)¹ He was acting chairman of the Observer circa 1910.⁴ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) (Conservative) for Plymouth between 1910 and 1918.¹ He gained the rank of Temporary Major in 1914.¹ He was Inspector of the Quarter-Master-General’s Services in the Home District between 1914 and 1917 for which he was mentioned in despatches.¹ He held the office of Parliamentary Private Secretary between 1917 and 1918, to the Prime Minister.⁵ He held the office of Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Food between 1918 and 1919.¹ He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) (Conservative) for Plymouth, Sutton Division between 1918 and 1919.¹ He held the office of Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Health between 1919 and 1921.¹ He succeeded as the 2nd Viscount Astor [U.K., 1917] on 18 October 1919.¹ He succeeded as the 2nd Baron Astor, of Hever Castle, co. Kent [U.K., 1916] on 18 October 1919.¹ He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of Devon.⁵ He gained the rank of honorary Colonel in 1929 in the Devon Heavy Brigade, Royal Artillery (Territorial Army.)¹ He held the office of Lord Mayor of Plymouth between 1939 and 1944.⁵ He has an extensive biographical entry in the Dictionary of National Biography.⁶
     

     Nancy Witcher Langhorne was born on 19 May 1879 at Danville, Virginia, U.S.A.^G.³ She was the daughter of Chiswell Dabney Langhorne and Nancy Witcher Keen.⁴ She married, firstly, Robert Gould Shaw II before 1898.^5,6 She and Robert Gould Shaw II were divorced in 1903.¹ She married, secondly, Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor, son of William Waldorf Astor, 1st Viscount Astor and Mary Dahlgren Paul, on 3 May 1906.¹ She died on 2 May 1964 at age 84.^5,7
     From before 1898, her married name became Shaw.⁵ Her married name became Astor. She held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) (Conservative) for Plymouth, Sutton Division between 1919 and 1945, the first woman Member of Parliament (M.P.) to take a seat.^1,6 After her marriage, Nancy Witcher Langhorne was styled as Viscountess of Astor on 18 October 1919. She was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) by Birmingham University, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England^G, in 1930.¹ She was appointed Companion of Honour (C.H.) in 1937.¹ She was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) by Reading University, Reading, Berkshire, England^G.⁸ She was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law (LL.D.) by College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S.A.^G.⁸ She was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law (LL.D.) by Exeter University, Exeter, Devon, England^G, in 1959.⁸ She has an extensive biographical entry in the Dictionary of National Biography.³
     

     Chiswell Dabney Langhorne married Nancy Witcher Keene.³
     Chiswell Dabney Langhorne also went by the nick-name of Chillie.⁴ He lived at Mirador, Greenwood, Virginia, U.S.A.^G.¹

     Tassilo Egon Maria Karl Georg Leo Prinz zu Fürstenberg was born on 20 June 1903 at Brussels, Belgium^G.² He was the son of Karl Emil Egon Prinz zu Fürstenberg and Maria Gräfin Festetics von Tolna.³ He married Cecilie Blaffer, daughter of Robert Lee Blaffer and Sarah Campbell.³ He married Clara Jeanne Agnelli, daughter of Edoardo Agnelli and Donna Virginia Bourbon del Monte dei principi di San Faustino, on 19 November 1938 at Turin, Italy^G.² He and Clara Jeanne Agnelli were divorced.⁴ He died on 15 July 1987 at age 84 at Strobl, Austria^G.²

     Hon. Francis David Langhorne Astor was born on 5 March 1912.¹ He was the son of Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor and Nancy Witcher Langhorne.² He married, firstly, Melanie Mathilda Elena Hauser, daughter of Philip Hauser, on 1 August 1945.¹ He and Melanie Mathilda Elena Hauser were divorced in 1951.¹ He married, secondly, Bridget Aphra Wreford, daughter of Major Cyril Frederick Wreford and Aphra Mary Esther Bush, on 28 February 1952.¹ He died on 6 December 2001 at age 89.²
     Hon. Francis David Langhorne Astor usually went by his middle name of David.¹ He was educated at Eton College, Windsor, Berkshire, England^G.¹ He was educated at Balliol College, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England^G.¹ He gained the rank of Captain in the Royal Marines.¹ He fought in the Second World War.¹ He was awarded the Croix de Guerre in 1944.² He was a foreign correspondant for The Observer between 1945 and 1948.¹ He was the proprietor/editor of The Observer between 1948 and 1975.¹ He was appointed Companion of Honour (C.H.) in 1994.¹ He lived in 1999 at The Manor House, Sutton Courtenay, Berkshire, England^G.¹

     Melanie Mathilda Elena Hauser is the daughter of Philip Hauser.¹ She married Hon. Francis David Langhorne Astor, son of Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor and Nancy Witcher Langhorne, on 1 August 1945.¹ She and Hon. Francis David Langhorne Astor were divorced in 1951.¹
     Her married name became Astor.