Gavin Astor

Who was Gavin Astor?

Gavin Astor, 2nd Baron Astor of Hever was an English soldier, publisher, peer, and member of the Astor family.

Gavin was the eldest son of Baron John Jacob Astor V and Baroness Violet Mary Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound. He had two younger brothers, Hugh and John. Violet also had two children, Mary and George, from her previous marriage to Charles George Francis Mercer Nairne Petty-Fitzmaurice.

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.

On 4 October 1945, he married Irene Violet Freesia Janet Augusta Haig, the youngest daughter of military officer Douglas Haig and Dorothy Maud Vivian. They had five children:

John Jacob "Johnny" Astor VIII married twice; three daughters from first marriage, two children from second marriage