Margaret Hoover
Margaret Claire Hoover (born December 11, 1977) is an American political commentator, political strategist, media personality, feminist, gay rights activist, author, and great-granddaughter of Herbert Hoover, the 31st U.S. President. She is the best-selling author of the book "American Individualism: How A New Generation of Conservatives Can Save the Republican Party", published by Crown Forum in July 2011. Hoover is currently host of PBS's reboot of the conservative interview show "Firing Line".
Hoover was born in Colorado, the daughter of Jean (Williams), a flight attendant, and Andrew Hoover, a mining engineer.
Close House, Northumberland
Margaret lived until she was 97 and therefore was the sole proprietor of Close House for 44 years. During this time she was frequently mentioned in the newspapers as a benefactress. In 1814 she built a school at Houghton for the children of the Close House Estate. The building still exists today She was also very interested in gardening and her gardener Joseph Clark frequently won prizes. In 1826 she obtained rare carnations from Brussels and sent a watercolour painting of some of them to a gardening magazine who published them. It is shown at this reference.