The Asquiths were originally a middle-class family from the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. They were members of the Congregational church, whose family name derived from the village of Askwith. The first prominent member of the family was H. H. Asquith, who was 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 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 herself.
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 September 1852 – 15 February 1928), married firstly (1877) Helen Kelsall Melland (1856–1891), issue 4 sons and 1 daughter
Raymond Asquith (6 November 1878 – 15 September 1916; killed in action), barrister and poet;[1] married 1907 Katharine Horner (1885–1976); 1 son and 2 daughters.
Helen Asquith OBE (1908–2000), teacher and school inspector, was appointed OBE in 1965, and awarded the papal medal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in 1989 for charitable work. She did not marry.[2]
Perdita Asquith (1910–1996) who married William Jolliffe, 4th Baron Hylton (d. 1967) and had issue two sons (including the present incumbent) and one daughter
Michael Henry Asquith (25 July 1914 – 19 January 2004); twice married and had issue 2 sons and 1 daughter.
Simon Roland Anthony Asquith (20 August 1919 – 18 December 1973); m. 1 October 1942 Vivien Lawrence Jones; they had issue 2 sons and 1 daughter.
Brigadier-General Arthur Asquith (24 April 1883 – 25 August 1939); married to 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 April 1887 – 19 February 1969), who became Baroness Asquith of Yarnbury in 1964; married 1916 Sir Maurice Bonham Carter (11 October 1880 – 7 June 1960), her father's private secretary, and had issue 2 sons and 2 daughters
Helen Cressida Bonham Carter (22 April 1917 – 17 June 1997), married 1939 Jasper Ridley (1913–1943); issue one son
(Joseph) Andrew Grimond (26 March 1939 – 23 March 1966) deputy editor, The Scotsman at his death.
Grizelda Jane Grimond (b. 1942), who lived for many years with Tony Richardson (d. 1991), with issue.
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. Has issue.
Luke Asquith (b. 1919),[5] whose daughter Anne (b. 1965)[6] is married since 1989 to Roderick Cavendish (b. 1959), son and heir of Frederick Caryll Philip Cavendish, 7th Baron Waterpark and has issue two sons.
Paul Asquith (4 January 1927–1984)[7][8] 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.
H. H. Asquith (12 September 1852 – 15 February 1928), married secondly 1894 Margot Tennant (2 February 1864 – 28 July 1945), surviving issue 1 son and 1 daughter.
