Ava Alice Muriel Astor
Encyclopedia
Ava Alice Muriel Astor was the daughter of John Jacob Astor IV
and Ava Lowle Willing
and sister of Vincent Astor
.
Alice Astor married Prince Serge Obolensky
on July 24, 1924 in the Savoy Chapel
in London. The marriage was considered the event of the season in England that year. Her brother Vincent gave her a Palladian Revival
stone residence on his estate near Rhinebeck, New York. The house was north of his own "Ferncliff Casin" ("Astor Courts") and also overlooked the Hudson River
. Alice named it "Marienhuh" and retained it through her life. Out of this marriage, a son, Prince Ivan Obolensky, was born in London in May 1925. The couple later had a daughter, Sylvia Obolensky.
After their divorce, Alice married Raimund Hoffmann, Edler von Hofmannsthal (1906 - 20 March 1974), the son of Hugo von Hofmannsthal
. The couple was married on January 21, 1933, in the city court of Newark, New Jersey
. The couple had a daughter, Romana von Hofmannsthal, who married Roderick McEwen, and divorced in 1939. Mr. von Hofmannsthal married Lady Elizabeth Paget later that year.
After her divorce, Alice married Philip Harding, a journalist. The wedding took place on March 27, 1940, in Faversham
, England
. Out of this union, one daughter, Emily Edwina Harding, was born in 1942.
Finally, she married David Pleydell-Bouverie. He was born on 20 April 1911, and was the grandson of William Pleydell-Bouverie, 5th Earl of Radnor
. The couple were married May 12, 1946 in Reading, Vermont
. The couple resided in New York City and Glen Ellen, California
, before eventually divorcing.
Her will was admitted to probate on November 5, 1956, in Manhattan Surrogate Court. Her assets, totaling $5,305,000, were divided among her four children.
John Jacob Astor IV
John Jacob Astor IV was an American businessman, real estate builder, investor, inventor, writer, lieutenant colonel in the Spanish-American War and a member of the prominent Astor family...
and Ava Lowle Willing
Ava Lowle Willing
Ava Lowle Willing, Lady Ribblesdale was an American socialite and the first wife of John Jacob Astor IV.-Biography:...
and sister of Vincent Astor
Vincent Astor
William Vincent Astor was a businessman and philanthropist and a member of the prominent Astor family.-Early life:...
.
Early life
Alice Astor was born on July 27, 1902 and was the only daughter of John Jacob Astor IV and Ava Lowle Willing. Her grandparents on her paternal side were Mr. and Mrs. William Astor of New York City.Marriages
Alice Astor married Prince Serge Obolensky
Serge Obolensky
Sergei Platonovich 5th Knyaz Obolensky-Neledinsky-Meletzky was a Russian Prince and Vice Chairman of the Board of Hilton Hotels Corporation....
on July 24, 1924 in the Savoy Chapel
Savoy Chapel
The Savoy Chapel or the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy is a chapel off the Strand, London, dedicated to St John the Baptist. It was originally built in the medieval era off the main church of the Savoy Palace...
in London. The marriage was considered the event of the season in England that year. Her brother Vincent gave her a Palladian Revival
Palladian architecture
Palladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio . The term "Palladian" normally refers to buildings in a style inspired by Palladio's own work; that which is recognised as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of...
stone residence on his estate near Rhinebeck, New York. The house was north of his own "Ferncliff Casin" ("Astor Courts") and also overlooked the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
. Alice named it "Marienhuh" and retained it through her life. Out of this marriage, a son, Prince Ivan Obolensky, was born in London in May 1925. The couple later had a daughter, Sylvia Obolensky.
After their divorce, Alice married Raimund Hoffmann, Edler von Hofmannsthal (1906 - 20 March 1974), the son of Hugo von Hofmannsthal
Hugo von Hofmannsthal
Hugo Laurenz August Hofmann von Hofmannsthal ; , was an Austrian novelist, librettist, poet, dramatist, narrator, and essayist.-Early life:...
. The couple was married on January 21, 1933, in the city court of Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
. The couple had a daughter, Romana von Hofmannsthal, who married Roderick McEwen, and divorced in 1939. Mr. von Hofmannsthal married Lady Elizabeth Paget later that year.
After her divorce, Alice married Philip Harding, a journalist. The wedding took place on March 27, 1940, in Faversham
Faversham
Faversham is a market town and civil parish in the Swale borough of Kent, England. The parish of Faversham grew up around an ancient sea port on Faversham Creek and was the birthplace of the explosives industry in England.-History:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Out of this union, one daughter, Emily Edwina Harding, was born in 1942.
Finally, she married David Pleydell-Bouverie. He was born on 20 April 1911, and was the grandson of William Pleydell-Bouverie, 5th Earl of Radnor
William Pleydell-Bouverie, 5th Earl of Radnor
William Pleydell-Bouverie, 5th Earl of Radnor PC , styled Viscount Folkestone from 1869 to 1889, was a British Conservative politician...
. The couple were married May 12, 1946 in Reading, Vermont
Reading, Vermont
Reading is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The population was 707 at the 2000 census.-History:On August 30, 1654, after being captured by Abenakis at Fort at Number 4, Charlestown, New Hampshire and being forced marched to Montreal, Susannah Willard Johnson gave birth to a...
. The couple resided in New York City and Glen Ellen, California
Glen Ellen, California
Glen Ellen is a census-designated place in Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA. The population was 784 at the 2010 census, down from 992 at the 2000 census. Glen Ellen is the location of Jack London State Historic Park , Sonoma Valley Regional Park, and a former home of Hunter S....
, before eventually divorcing.
Death
Astor died of a stroke in her East Sixty-First Street apartment on July 19, 1956. She was a patron of the arts, including the ballet companies of London and New York City.Her will was admitted to probate on November 5, 1956, in Manhattan Surrogate Court. Her assets, totaling $5,305,000, were divided among her four children.