Mitford family

The Mitfords were an aristocratic British family noted for their accomplishments in writing and for their notorious lives, particularly of the daughters of the family who were known collectively as the Mitford sisters.

They were the children of David Bertram Ogilvy Freeman-Mitford, 2nd Baron Redesdale (March 13 1878 – March 17 1958) and his wife Sydney Bowles. The family home was Asthall Manor in Oxfordshire.

# Nancy Mitford (November 28, 1904 – June 30, 1973). Married Peter Rodd and had a longstanding relationship with French politician and statesman Gaston Palewski. Writer of many novels, including her most popular (and somewhat auto-biographical), The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate. Also a noted biographer of historical figures.# Pamela Mitford (November 25, 1907 – April 12, 1994). Married Derek Jackson. # Thomas Mitford (January 2, 1909 – March 30, 1945). Educated at Eton, where he had a homosexual relationship with James Lees-Milne. Died as a soldier in Burma.# Diana Mitford (June 17, 1910 – August 11, 2003). Married aristocrat and writer Bryan Walter Guinness and British Fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley. Was imprisoned in Holloway Prison during World War Two.# Unity Valkyrie Mitford (August 8, 1914 – May 28, 1948). Famous for her adulation of Adolf Hitler, shot herself in the head when the Second World War broke out, but failed to kill herself.# Jessica Mitford (September 11, 1917 – July 22, 1996). Married Esmond Romilly and Robert Treuhaft. Anti-Fascist activist. Moved to the USA to pursue a career as an investigative writer.# Deborah Mitford (born March 31, 1920). She married Andrew Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire.

The daughters were the subject of a song, The Mitford Sisters, by Luke Haines.