Eden, Clarissa (1920–)

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Eden, Clarissa (1920–)

British journalist and prime-ministerial wife. Name variations: Clarissa Churchill; Clarissa Spencer-Churchill; Lady Avon. Born Anne Clarissa Spencer-Churchill, June 28, 1920; 3rd child and only dau. of Major John Strange Spencer-Churchill (younger brother of Winston Churchill, died 1947) and Gwendoline Theresa Mary Bertie (dau. of the 7th earl of Abingdon); m. Sir Anthony Eden (prime minister, 1955–57), Aug 14, 1952 (created 1st earl of Avon, 1961, died 1977).

Worked as a journalist; during WWII, worked in the Ministry of Information on Britansky Soyuznik, an English-language propaganda newspaper for Russian readers, then the Foreign Office; was feature editor of the London edition of Vogue before becoming publicity director for filmmaker Alexander Korda.