John Astor, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever
| The Right Honourable The Lord Astor of Hever DL |
|
|---|---|
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office May 2010 |
|
| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 June 1946 |
| Political party | Conservative |
John Jacob Astor, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever, DL (born 16 June 1946) is a British businessman and Conservative elected hereditary peer in the House of Lords. He is currently a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence.
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[edit] Early life and family
Astor was born in June 1946 as the eldest son of Gavin Astor, 2nd Baron Astor of Hever and Lady Irene Haig (daughter of Field Marshal the 1st Earl Haig). He succeeded his father in 1984.
He has been twice married:
- 1) Fiona Diana Lennox Harvey (1 July 1970- divorced 1990); three children:
- i) The Honourable Camilla Astor (born 8 May 1974)
- ii) The Honourable Tania Jentie Astor (born 18 April 1978)
- iii) The Honourable Violet Magdalene Astor (born 1980)
- 2) The Honourable Elizabeth Mackintosh (1990 to date); two children:
- The Honourable Charles Gavin John Astor (born 10 November 1990)
- The Honourable Olivia Alexandra Elizabeth Astor (born 21 August 1992)
One of his five children is autistic. He lives in Westerham, Kent.
[edit] Education and military career
Astor was educated at Eton before serving with the Life Guards (the senior regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment) from 1966 until 1970, where he visited Malaysia, Hong Kong and Northern Ireland as well as ceremonial duties in London.
He worked in France for 11 years, and is now patron of the Conservatives in Paris.
[edit] Political career
In 1994, Lord Astor of Hever was a British Parliamentary Observer in Johannesburg during the South African General Election. He was a member of the Executive, Association of Conservative Peers from 1996-1998. In 1999 he was elected to the House of Lords.
From 1998-2001, he served as an Opposition Spokesman on Social Security and Health from 1998-2003. From 2001, he has been an Opposition Spokesman for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs, and International Development, and from 2003 to 2010, Opposition Spokesman for Defence. He is, as of May 2010, a Lord in Waiting.
He is Former Hon Vice Chairman of the Conservative Middle East Council In 1995 he piloted through the House of Lords the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act and in 1996 the Trading Schemes Act.
[edit] Patronage/community
Astor is a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent. He is also president of the Durand Group (WWI Research) and the Westerham Branch of the Royal British Legion and trustee of the Astor of Hever Trust. He is a former patron of the Edenbridge and District Rifle Club, the League of Friends of Edenbridge Hospital, the Durand Group, the Kent Youth Association, the Bridge Trust, the Aquarian Opera, the Edenbridge Music & Arts Trust, and the Worldwide Volunteering for Young People. Astor was formerly president of the Motorsport Industry Association, the Earl Haig branch of the Royal British Legion, the Eden Valley Museum, and the Kent County Royal British Legion. He was also president of RoSPA and Chairman of St John, Kent, in the Kent Committee of the Country Land and Business Association from 1987 to 1997.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
- Current session contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Voting record at PublicWhip.org
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou.com
- Profile at Westminster Parliamentary Record
- Profile at BBC News Democracy Live
- Lord Astor on the Conservative Party's website
| Peerage of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Gavin Astor |
Baron Astor of Hever | Succeeded by (current incumbent) |
