This portrait of Nancy Langhorne, Viscountess Astor, painted by James Gunn hangs on in the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond Virginia.
"Born in Danville, Virginia, on May 19, 1879, Lady Astor was the first woman member of the British Parliament, elected November 28, 1919, and represented Plymouth, Sutton Division.
The portrait of Lady Astor, dressed in attire that she customarily wore when sitting as a Member of the British Parliament, was presented in 1937 to Governor George C. Peery by a committee representing the ladies of the Commonwealth."
From a flyer available at the Virginia Capitol Building:
Lady Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor
Lady Nancy Witcher Langhorne Astor
(1879-1964)
• Born May 19, 1879 in
Danville, VA
• Family amassed wealth
through contracts with the
Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad
• Sister Irene became the
celebrated "Gibson
Girl"
• Married Robert Gould
Shaw, 1894; divorced 1903 (one son)
• After meeting on an
ocean voyage, married
Waldorf Astor in London, 1906 ( fours
sons, one daughter)
• Waldorf Astor vacates
seat in Parliament when he
succeeds to the title of 2nd Viscount;
Lady Astor runs for Parliament
• Dec. 1, 1919, becomes
first woman seated to British
Parliament; retires from office, 1945
• Never forgetting her
Virginia roots, donated antique clock (on
display in the Jefferson Room) to the Capitol
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