Nancy Astor.

Nancy Witcher Astor

Born 19 May 1879 Danville, United States of America

Died 2 May 1964 Bourne, United Kingdom

Citizenship United Kingdom

6 min read

Reading time

1,100

Words

Apr 7, 2026

Published

Film credit

TL;DR

Nancy Astor became the first woman to sit in the House of Commons on November 28, 1919, elected for Plymouth Sutton. Born in Danville, Virginia, she married Waldorf Astor and became Viscountess Astor. Her famous exchange with Winston Churchill displayed her sharp wit. She served until 1945 and died in 1964 at Grimsthorpe Castle.

Identity & family.

KIN · 13

Names, aliases, and relatives of Nancy Astor — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Nancy Witcher Astor

Nicknames The Member for Berlin

Aliases Lady Astor, Viscountess Astor

PARENTS: Nancy Witcher Keen Chiswell Langhorne
SPOUSES: Waldorf Astor Robert Gould Shaw II
CHILDREN: Robert Gould Shaw III David Astor Jakie Astor Michael Astor Nancy Phyllis Louise Astor
SIBLINGS: Irene Langhorne Gibson Nora Langhorne Phyllis Langhorne Elizabeth Dabney Langhorne

At a glance.

STATS

Nancy Astor by the numbers — life, work, and family.

84 Years lived

1 Film credit

2 Marriages

5 Children

Who was Nancy Astor?

BIOGRAPHY

Nancy Astor — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Nancy Witcher Langhorne was born on May 19, 1879, in Danville, Virginia, to Nancy Witcher Keen and Chiswell Langhorne, a tobacco auctioneer and railroad entrepreneur. She grew up with four sisters, including the noted socialite Irene Langhorne Gibson. Her upbringing in the American South fostered her outspoken and determined personality.

Career

Nancy Astor entered politics when her husband Waldorf Astor succeeded to a peerage and moved to the House of Lords, leaving his seat in Plymouth Sutton vacant. She contested the by-election on November 28, 1919, winning by a landslide and becoming the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons. She served as a Conservative MP for 25 years, advocating for temperance and women’s rights. She once told Winston Churchill, ‘If I was your wife I’d poison your coffee. He retorted, ‘If I was your husband I’d drink it.

Personal life

Nancy Astor married Robert Gould Shaw II in 1897, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1903. They had one son, Robert Gould Shaw III. In 1906 she married Waldorf Astor, a wealthy Anglo-American publisher and politician. They had four children: David, Jakie, Michael, and Nancy Phyllis Louise. Her first husband was a cousin of the Union Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.

Legacy

Nancy Astor’s 1919 election victory made her the first woman to sit in the British Parliament, a landmark for women in politics. She served as MP for Plymouth Sutton for 25 years. Her life is documented in the 1980 biography Nancy Astor: Portrait of a Pioneer by John Grigg. Her exchange with Winston Churchill remains a well-known piece of parliamentary history.

Filmography.

FILMS · 1

Browse the complete filmography of Nancy Astor — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

Movie

The Astors: High Society

1996

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 2

A wall of memorable lines from Nancy Astor — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

The Penalty for Success Is to Be Bored by the People Who Used to Snub You.
On Sexual Politics: I Married Beneath Me All Women Do.

Did you know?

FACTS · 5

Little-known facts about Nancy Astor — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Through her first husband Robert Gould Shaw II, she was related to the Union Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.
She famously traded quips with Winston Churchill, telling him she would poison his coffee if she were his wife, and he replied he would drink it if he were her husband.
She was grandmother to Jane Willoughby de Eresby and William Astor.
She made history as the first woman elected to the British Parliament, representing Plymouth Sutton from November 28, 1919 to July 5, 1945.
Her life was documented in the 1980 biography Nancy Astor: Portrait of a Pioneer by John Grigg.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 29

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Nancy Astor.

When was Nancy Astor born?

Nancy Astor was born on May 19, 1879. She was born in Danville, Virginia.
Where was Nancy Astor born?

Nancy Astor was born in Danville, Virginia. She later became a British citizen after marriage.
When did Nancy Astor die?

Nancy Astor died on May 2, 1964. She passed away at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire, England.
How old was Nancy Astor when she died?

Nancy Astor was 84 years old when she died. She lived from May 19, 1879 to May 2, 1964.
Where did Nancy Astor die?

Nancy Astor died at Grimsthorpe Castle in Bourne, Lincolnshire, England. She was staying there at the time of her death.
What was Nancy Astor's birth name?

Her birth name was Nancy Witcher Astor. She was born Nancy Witcher Langhorne but the source records her birth name as Nancy Witcher Astor.
What nationality was Nancy Astor?

Nancy Astor was a British citizen. She acquired British nationality through marriage to Waldorf Astor.
Who were Nancy Astor's parents?

Her father was Chiswell Langhorne, a tobacco auctioneer and railroad entrepreneur. Her mother was Nancy Witcher Keen.
Who was Nancy Astor married to?

She was married twice. First to Robert Gould Shaw II from 1897 to 1903, then to Waldorf Astor from 1906 until his death in 1952.
How many children did Nancy Astor have?

Nancy Astor had five children. With her first husband she had Robert Gould Shaw III, and with Waldorf she had David, Jakie, Michael, and Nancy Phyllis Louise Astor.
Did Nancy Astor have any siblings?

She had four sisters: Irene, Nora, Phyllis, and Elizabeth. Irene Langhorne Gibson was a famous socialite.
What nickname was Nancy Astor known by?

Nancy Astor was nicknamed The Member for Berlin. The nickname is recorded in her biographies.
Why was Nancy Astor called Lady Astor?

After marrying Waldorf Astor, who became Viscount Astor, she was styled as Viscountess Astor and commonly referred to as Lady Astor.
How many times was Nancy Astor married?

Nancy Astor was married twice. Her first marriage was to Robert Gould Shaw II and her second to Waldorf Astor.
What was Nancy Astor's famous exchange with Winston Churchill?

She once said to Winston Churchill, If I was your wife I’d poison your coffee. He replied, If I was your husband I’d drink it.
What historic political achievement is Nancy Astor known for?

She was the first woman to take her seat in the British Parliament, elected on November 28, 1919 for Plymouth Sutton.
Who were Nancy Astor's grandchildren?

She was grandmother to Jane Willoughby de Eresby and William Astor.
What biography was written about Nancy Astor?

Her life was documented in the 1980 biography Nancy Astor: Portrait of a Pioneer by John Grigg.
What relation did Nancy Astor have to Robert Gould Shaw?

Her first husband, Robert Gould Shaw II, was a cousin of the Union Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.
How long did Nancy Astor serve in Parliament?

Nancy Astor served as MP for Plymouth Sutton from November 28, 1919 to July 5, 1945, a total of 25 years.
For which constituency did Nancy Astor serve?

She represented Plymouth Sutton in the House of Commons throughout her parliamentary career.
Who was Nancy Astor's first husband?

Her first husband was Robert Gould Shaw II, whom she married in 1897. They divorced in 1903.
Who was Nancy Astor's second husband?

Her second husband was Waldorf Astor, a wealthy publisher and politician. They married in 1906.
How many children did Nancy Astor have with her first husband?

She had one child with Robert Gould Shaw II: a son named Robert Gould Shaw III.
How many children did Nancy Astor have with Waldorf Astor?

She had four children with Waldorf Astor: David, Jakie, Michael, and Nancy Phyllis Louise.
What was the name of Nancy Astor's son with Robert Gould Shaw II?

Her son was named Robert Gould Shaw III.
What was the name of Nancy Astor's eldest child with Waldorf Astor?

Her eldest child with Waldorf Astor was David Astor.
What was the name of Nancy Astor's daughter?

Her only daughter was Nancy Phyllis Louise Astor.
Which of Nancy Astor's siblings was a noted socialite?

Her sister Irene Langhorne Gibson was a famous socialite.

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Audited & updated by

Emma has 8 years of editorial experience and a very clear idea of what a good biography looks like. At Famousy, she runs the editorial operation and decides what meets the bar and what doesn't. She's the kind of editor who remembers the profiles she pushed back on more clearly than the ones she approved. That's not a complaint. That's exactly why the site reads the way it does.

Published on April 7, 2026

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