Asquith family

H. H. Asquith

The Asquiths were originally a middle-class family from West Yorkshire, members of the Congregational church. The first prominent member of the family was H. H. Asquith, the British Prime Minister from 1908 to 1916. In 1925, Asquith was raised to the peerage as Earl of Oxford and Asquith. His great-grandson Raymond is the present Earl.

All of H. H. Asquith's seven children achieved some prominence in national affairs. By his first wife Helen Kelsall Melland (d. 1891), he had four sons and one daughter. All of the Prime Minister's sons volunteered for the Front early in the war. The eldest son, Raymond, a barrister and poet, was killed in action in 1916. The second son, Herbert, was a poet who married Lady Cynthia Charteris, a writer and anthologist. The third son, Arthur, became a Brigadier. The fourth son, Cyril (1890–1954), became a Law Lord. The daughter, Violet (1887–1969), became a Liberal politician and a Life Peeress in her own right in 1964.

By his second wife, the former Margot Tennant, Asquith had two more children. His daughter Elizabeth (1897–1945) was a writer who married a Romanian prince, becoming Princess Antoine Bibesco. His youngest son Anthony (1902–1968) became a well-known film director.

Prominent members

Living descendants are omitted, unless they are notable and/or have a separate Wikipedia entry.

• H. H. Asquith (12 Sep 1852–15 Feb 1928), married firstly (1877) Helen Kelsall Melland (1856–1891), issue 4 sons and 1 daughter
  • Raymond Asquith (06 Nov 1878–15 Sep 1916; killed in action), barrister and poet;^[1] married 1907 Katherine Horner (1885–1976); 1 son and 2 daughters.
    • Lady Helen Asquith (1908–2000) who died unmarried.
    • Lady Perdita Asquith (1910–1996) who married the William Jolliffe, 4th Baron Hylton (d. 1967) and had issue two sons (including the present incumbent) and one daughter
      • Raymond Jolliffe, 5th Baron Hylton (b. 13 Jun 1932), married 1966 Joanna de Bertodano, issue 4 sons and 1 daughter
      • the Hon. John Jolliffe (15 Jul 1929–30 Mar 1985), Bodley's Librarian from 1982 to 1985
      • the Hon. Mary Jolliffe (d. 2009), married John Paget Chancellor (b. 1927), issue 1 son and 3 daughters
        • Isabel Chancellor (b. 1959)
        • Katherine Chancellor, or Kate Chancellor (b. 1961) formerly married 1989-97 to novelist Will Self, issue 1 son and 1 daughter.
        • John Chancellor (b. 1962)
        • Anna Chancellor (b. 27 Apr 1965), actress, mother of:
          • Poppy Chancellor (b. 1988)
    • Julian Asquith, 2nd Earl of Oxford and Asquith (22 Apr 1916–16 Jan 2011) married Anne Palairet (14 Nov 1916–19 Aug 1998); issue 2 sons and 3 daughters.^[2]
      • Raymond Asquith, 3rd Earl of Oxford and Asquith (b. 24 Aug 1952), British diplomat and businessman; married Mary Clare Pollen (b. 02 Jun 1951); issue 1 son and 4 daughters
        • Mark Julian Asquith, Viscount Asquith (b. 13 May 1979), heir apparent to the earldom; married with issue.
        • Lady Magdalen Katharine Asquith (b. 30 Dec 1981)
        • Lady Frances Sophia Asquith (b. 1984), Russian art expert for Sotheby's.
        • Lady Celia Rose Asquith (b. 1989)
        • Lady Isabel Anne Asquith (b. 1991)
      • the Hon. Sir Dominic Asquith, British diplomat (b. 07 Feb 1957), Ambassador to Iraq 2006–7, Ambassador to Egypt 2007–11 and Ambassador to Libya 2011–12.; married to Louise Cotton (b. 1962), and has issue 2 sons and 2 daughters (Helena and Gabriela Asquith).
      • Lady Annunziata Asquith, former model for Burberry; unmarried.
      • Lady Katherine Page; married firstly (divorced) Sir Adam Ridley (himself grandson of Violet Bonham Carter, Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury); married secondly J.C. Page.
      • Lady Clare Asquith, unmarried.
  • the Hon. Herbert Asquith (11 Mar 1881–05 Aug 1947), poet and lawyer; married to Lady Cynthia Charteris (27 Sep 1887–31 Mar 1960), writer, a daughter of the Hugo Charteris, 11th Earl of Wemyss and 7th Earl of March; issue 3 sons
    • John Michael Asquith (9 May 1911–May 1937)
    • Michael Henry Asquith (25 Jul 1914–19 Jan 2004); twice married and had issue 2 sons and 1 daughter.
    • Simon Roland Anthony Asquith (20 Aug 1919–18 Dec 1973); m. 1 October 1942 Vivien Lawrence Jones; they had issue 2 sons and 1 daughter.
  • Brigadier-General the Hon. Arthur Asquith (24 Apr 1883–25 Aug 1939); married to the Hon. Betty Manners, a daughter of John Manners-Sutton, 3rd Baron Manners, and had issue.

Violet Bonham-Carter, Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury.

• • (Lady) Violet Asquith, later Bonham Carter (15 Apr 1887–19 Feb 1969), who became Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury in 1964; married 1916 Sir Maurice Bonham Carter (11 Oct 1880–07 Jun 1960), her father's private secretary, and had issue 2 sons and 2 daughters
    • the Hon. Helen Cressida Bonham Carter (22 Apr 1917–17 Jun 1997), married 1939 Jasper Ridley (1913–1943); issue one son
      • Sir Adam Ridley (b. 14 May 1942)
    • the Hon. Laura Bonham Carter (13 Oct 1918–1969), married Jo Grimond, Baron Grimond of Firth (19 Jul 1913–24 Oct 1993); issue 3 sons and 1 daughter.
      • (Joseph) Andrew Grimond (26 Mar 1939 - 23 Mar 1966) deputy editor, The Scotsman at his death.
      • the Hon. Grizelda Jane Grimond (b. 1942), who lived for many years with Tony Richardson (d. 1991)
        • Katherine Grimond (b. 1973) md 2002 Steven Hess, with issue.
      • the Hon. John Jasper Grimond, or "Johnny" Grimond (b. 1946) former Foreign Editor, The Economist, married Roberta Katherine "Kate" Fleming (b. 1946), co-heir of Ian Fleming her paternal uncle since 1996/7.
        • (Mary) Jessie Grimond (b. 1976), journalist
        • Rose Grimond (b. 1979), organics food entrepreneur; md 2007 to novelist James Scudamore (b 1976), and has issue.
        • Georgia Grimond (b. 1983), journalist
      • the Hon. (Thomas) Magnus Grimond (b. 1959), married to Laura Raison (b. 1959)
        • Eliza Grimond (b. 1992)
        • Lucy Grimond (b. 1994)
        • William Grimond (b. 1996)
        • Joshua Grimond (b. 1994)
    • Mark Bonham Carter, Baron Bonham-Carter (11 Feb 1922–04 Sep 1994), himself a life peer; married 1955 Leslie Nast; issue 3 daughters
      • Jane Bonham Carter, Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (b. 20 Oct 1957), married Tim Razzall, Baron Razzall (b. 12 Jun 1943)
      • the Hon. Virginia Bonham Carter (b. 1959)
      • the Hon. Eliza Bonham Carter (b. 1961)
    • the Hon. Raymond Bonham Carter (1929–2004), married Elena Proper de Callejón; had issue 2 sons and 1 daughter.
      • Edward Bonham Carter (b. 24 May 1960), banker; married Victoria Studd with issue 2 sons and 1 daughter.
        • Maud Bonham Carter (b. 30 Nov 1999)
        • Harry Bonham Carter (b. 2004)
        • Tobias Bonham Carter (b. 15 Mar 2004)
      • Thomas Bonham Carter (b. 08 Dec 1961), married with issue 2 daughters and 1 son.
        • Freddy Bonham Carter
        • Rosie Bonham Carter
        • Matilda Bonham Carter
        • George Bonham Carter
      • Helena Bonham Carter (b. 1966), actress; partnered with Tim Burton, has issue 1 son and 1 daughter.
        • Billy Ray Burton (b. 04 Oct 2003)
        • Nell Burton (b. 15 Dec 2007)
  • Cyril Asquith, Baron Asquith of Bishopstone (05 Feb 1890–24 Aug 1954); married 1918 Anne Stephanie Pollock (27 Apr 1896–1964),^[3] of the Pollock Baronets; they had issue 2 sons and 2 daughters.
    • the Hon. Luke Asquith (b. 1919),^[4] whose daughter Anne (b. 1965)^[5] is married since 1989 to Hon. Roderick Cavendish (b. 1959), son and heir of Frederick Caryll Philip Cavendish, 7th Baron Waterpark and has issue two sons.
    • the Hon. Paul Asquith (04 Jan 1927–1984)^[6][7] married 1953 (div 1963) as her first husband Helena Mary Bridgeman (b. 1932) and has issue two children. He married 1963 Caroline Anne Carew Pole and had further issue, two children. All four children are married with issue.
    • the Hon. Jane Asquith (b. 1922) ^[7]
    • the Hon. (Frances) Rose Asquith (b. 1925)^[7][8] married Sir John Frederick Eustace Stephenson, Lord Justice of Appeal (d. 1998), son of Sir Guy Stephenson, and had issue.^[9]

• H. H. Asquith (12 Sep 1852–15 Feb 1928), married secondly 1894 Margot Tennant (02 Feb 1864–28 Jul 1945), surviving issue 1 son and 1 daughter.
  • Lady Elizabeth Asquith (26 Feb 1897–07 Apr 1945) married Prince Antoine Bibesco (19 Jul 1878–02 Sep 1951); issue 1 daughter.
    • Priscilla Bibesco (05 Jun 1920–13 Oct 2004), later Padev, later Hodgson, no issue.
  • the Hon. Anthony Asquith (09 Nov 1902–20 Feb 1968), filmmaker.

See also

• Earl of Oxford and Asquith

References