On November 28, 1919, Nancy Astor (commonly referred to as Lady Astor) was elected to British Parliament and became the first woman to sit in England’s House of Commons.

Lady Astor was born as Nancy Withcer Langhorne in Danville, Virginia in 1879. She was the daughter of a wealthy American businessman and former Confederate officer. In 1897, Nancy married a man from Boston, but later divorced. Shortly thereafter, Nancy visited England and met Waldorf Astor, the great-great-grandson of the wealthy American fur trader John Jacob Astor. In 1906, Nancy married Waldorf and moved to his country estate of Cliveden in England.

In 1910, Waldorf Astor was elected to the British House of Commons and the Astors moved to his new constituency of Plymouth. In 1919, Waldorf's father died and Waldorf succeeded his father’s open seat in the House of Lords. This left an opening for Waldorf’s seat in the House of Commons, and Nancy decided to run for her husband’s vacant seat.

Nancy Astor ran a flamboyant campaign – to say the least – that attracted international attention. Her campaign slogan was "Vote for Lady Astor and your children will weigh more." She also used the slogan, "If you want a party hack, don't elect me." Voters were drawn to her unique sense of flamboyancy, humor, and cunningness.

On November 28, 1919, Lady Astor won her husband’s former seat in the House of Commons by a large percentage. She subsequently became the first woman ever to sit in the House of Commons. However, she was not the first woman elected to the House of Commons. That feat belongs to Irish nationalist, Constance Markiewicz, who was elected to the House of Commons for Dublin’s constituency in 1918 but refused to go as a protest against the British government.

Lady Astor promoted women’s and children’s rights, temperance, and was an outspoken critic of communism. She once had the opportunity to meet Hitler and refused. She also acted as a hostess to American troops stationed in Plymouth, England in preparation for D-Day during World War II.

Lady Astor was also an impassioned speaker and fierce debater. She is most famously noted for her heated debates with Winston Churchill. Lady Astor once told Churhill, "Winston, if I were your wife I'd put poison in your coffee," and Churchill responded, "Nancy, if I were your husband I'd drink it." Lady Astor also accused Churchill of being drunk in one debate when she said, "You are drunk, Mr. Churchill. You are drunk!" Churchill responded, "You are ugly, Madam. You are ugly. And I’ll be sober in the morning."

Lady Astor was repeatedly reelected by her constituency in Plymouth, until she retired from the House of Commons in 1945.