Margot Asquith
Margot Asquith - A Famous Scottish Socialite, Author and Wit
Margot Asquith (1864 - 1945) was born, on February 2nd 1864, in Peeblesshire, (now Tweeddale in the Borders) the eleventh child of Sir Charles Clow Tennant and Emma Winsloe and great-great granddaughter of the chemist Charles Tennant.
In 1881 Margot, and her sister Laura, entered London society. With their charm, and Margot's wit, the two became very popular amongst intellectuals. They joined a small group, of English socialites, politicians and intellectuals, who had become known as "The Souls" after Lord Charles Beresford had said of them,
"You all sit and talk about each others' souls — I shall call you the 'Souls'".
In 1885 Laura married Alfred Lyttleton but, sadly, died in 1888 with a profound effect upon Margot who, as a result, developed chronic insomnia from which she was to suffer for the rest of her life.
Margot married, and became the second wife of, Herbert Henry Asquith on May 10, 1894. They first set up home in a large house in Cavendish Square and later moved to to 10 Downing Street when Herbert Henry became the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1908 (to 1916). Margot Asquith was known for her outspokenness and many believe that it was this contributed to the political downfall of her husband.
After the death of her husband in 1928 Margot found herself in some financial difficulty. She earned a living from writing, which included numerous autobiographies, unfortunately it was not critically accepted.
Margot Asquith died of pneumonia on July 28, 1945.
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