Sir Edward Astley, 4th Baronet

Who was Sir Edward Astley, 4th Baronet?

Sir Edward Astley, 4th Baronet was a British politician.

He was the oldest son of Sir Jacob Astley, 3rd Baronet and his second wife Lucy le Strange, youngest daughter of Sir Nicholas le Strange, 4th Baronet, and was baptised at Hindolveston in Norfolk three days after his birth. He was admitted to Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1747. In 1760, Astley succeeded his father as baronet.

He was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk for 1763–64 and in 1768 stood successfully as Member of Parliament for Norfolk, the same constituency his great-grandfather Sir Jacob Astley, 1st Baronet had represented, too. Astley held this seat until the 1790 general election when he retired.

Astley married firstly Rhoda Delaval, oldest daughter of Francis Blake Delaval in 1751. Rhoda died in childbirth in 1757, bequeathing him Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland. Astley married secondly Anne Milles, youngest daughter of Christopher Milles, at St Margaret's Church, Westminster two years later. She died in 1792, and he married lastly Elizabeth Bullen at St Marylebone Parish Church in the following year. Astley had three sons and a daughter by his first wife and five sons and two daughters by his second wife.