Astor , Francis David Langhorne , b 1912 , journalist x Astor , David

David Astor was born in London and brought up in London and Buckinghamshire. His parents were Waldorf and Nancy Astor (afterwards Viscount and Viscountess Astor). David Astor was educated at Eton and at Balliol College Oxford. He joined The Observer, a newspaper then owned by his family, informally in 1941 and formally in 1946. He became editor in 1948, retaining the position until 1975; under his influence, the paper became much less conservative and more liberal in outlook. Astor was interested in social and political issues and in philanthropy throughout his life and in retirement became heavily involved in charity work. He was made a Companion of Honour in 1994.