John Jacob "Johnny" Astor VIII, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever, (born 16 June 1946) is an English businessman and politician from the

Astor family The Astor family achieved prominence in business, society, and politics in the United States and the United Kingdom during the 19th and 20th centuries. With ancestral roots in the Italian Alps region of Italy by way of Germany, the Astors settled ...

. He sat in the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by appointment, heredity or official function. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminste ...

as an

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...

hereditary peer from 1986 to his retirement in 2022. Astor was

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (or just Parliamentary Secretary, particularly in departments not led by a Secretary of State) is the lowest of three tiers of government minister in the UK government, immediately junior to a Minister ...

at the Ministry of Defence from 2010–2015. Astor is a Deputy Lieutenant of

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

Family background

Astor was born 16 June 1946. He is the eldest of the five children of Gavin Astor, 2nd Baron Astor of Hever, and Lady Irene Haig. Astor succeeded to the peerage after his father died from cancer in June 1984. His younger siblings are Bridget, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Philip.

Education and military career

Astor was educated at

Eton College Eton College () is a public school in Eton, Berkshire, England. It was founded in 1440 by Henry VI under the name ''Kynge's College of Our Ladye of Eton besyde Windesore'',Nevill, p. 3 ff. intended as a sister institution to King's College, ...

before serving with the Life Guards (the senior regiment of the British Army, part of the

Household Cavalry The Household Cavalry (HCav) is made up of the two most senior regiments of the British Army, the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons). These regiments are divided between the Household Cavalry Regiment sta ...

) from 1966 until 1970, where he visited

Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...

, Hong Kong, and

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

as well as ceremonial duties in London. He worked in France for 11 years, and is now patron of the Conservatives in Paris.

Political career

In 1994, Lord Astor 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 continue as a member of the

. Astor retired from the House of Lords on 22 July 2022. 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, from 2003 to 2010, Opposition Spokesman for Defense, and from 2010 to 2011 a

Lord in Waiting Lords-in-waiting (male) or baronesses-in-waiting (female) are peers who hold office in the Royal Household of the sovereign of the United Kingdom. In the official Court Circular they are styled "Lord in Waiting" or "Baroness in Waiting" (withou ...

. From 2010–2015 he was

parliamentary under-secretary of state Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (or just Parliamentary Secretary, particularly in departments not led by a Secretary of State) is the lowest of three tiers of government minister in the UK government, immediately junior to a Minister ...

at the Ministry of Defence. He is currently the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Oman and Defence Secretary's Adviser for Military Co-operation with the Sultanate of Oman. He is Former Hon Vice-Chairman of the

Conservative Middle East Council The Conservative Middle East Council or CMEC is an organisation which exists to help ensure that Conservative MPs and Peers better understand the Middle East. Its director is former MP Charlotte Leslie who was appointed in July 2017. CMEC organis ...

. In 1995 he piloted through the House of Lords the Road Traffic (New Drivers) Act and in 1996 the Trading Schemes Act.

Marriages and children

Astor married firstly Fiona Diana Lennox-Harvey on 1 July 1970. They had three daughters together:Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition, 2 volumes. Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 1999. p.308 *Camilla Fiona Astor (born 8 May 1974) she married Dominic M. Trusted and they have one daughter: **Raya Trusted (March 2008) *Tania Jentie Astor (born 18 April 1978) *Violet Magdalene Astor (born 1980) They were divorced in 1990 and in the same year Astor married Elizabeth Mackintosh, younger daughter of

John Mackintosh, 2nd Viscount Mackintosh of Halifax John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

. They had two children: *Charles Gavin John Astor (born 10 November 1990). In June 2017, he married Princess Eliane Marie Ghislain de Merode. Their daughter, Astrid, was born in Sept. 2020. *Olivia Alexandra Elizabeth Astor (born 21 August 1992)

References

Arms

External links

*
Lord Astor
on the Conservative Party's website

onorary Member of the Lions Club Walldorf-Astoria (Germany) {{DEFAULTSORT:Astor of Hever, John Astor, 3rd Baron 1946 births Living people People educated at Eton College British Life Guards officers English people of American descent English people of German descent English people of Irish descent English people of Scottish descent Livingston family

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

Barons Astor of Hever Conservative Party (UK) hereditary peers Hereditary peers elected under the House of Lords Act Deputy Lieutenants of Kent People from Westerham English politicians English businesspeople Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom