Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford

Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford KG PC (13 May 1788 – 14 May 1861), styled Marquess of Tavistock from 1802 to 1839, was a British peer and Whig politician.


The Duke of Bedford
Tenure20 October 1839 – 14 May 1861
PredecessorJohn Russell
SuccessorWilliam Russell
Other titles7th Marquess of Tavistock
11th Earl of Bedford
11th Baron Russell
9th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh
7th Baron Howland
Born(1788-05-13)13 May 1788
Died14 May 1861(1861-05-14) (aged 73)
Spouse(s)
(m. 1808; died 1857)
Issue
ParentsJohn Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
Georgiana Byng

Background and education

He was the son of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford, and his first wife, the Hon. Georgiana Byng, second daughter of George Byng, 4th Viscount Torrington.[1] Russell was educated at Westminster School and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1808 as a Master of Arts.[2] He succeeded his father as duke in 1839.

Statue of Francis, 7th Duke of Bedford by Edward Bowring Stephens, before the Magistrate's Court, Tavistock. Erected by public subscription, 1864

Career

He entered the British House of Commons in 1809, sitting as Member of Parliament for Peterborough in the next three years. Subsequently, Russell represented Bedfordshire until 1832. In the following year, he was summoned to the House of Lords in his father's junior title Baron Howland of Streatham by a writ of acceleration.[1] Russell was sworn of the Privy Council on 6 July 1846 and was invested as a Knight of the Order of the Garter on 26 March 1847. He was made a Special Deputy Warden of the Stannaries in 1852[1] and was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire in 1859, a post he held until his death in 1861.

Family

Shield of arms of Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford, KG, PC

Russell was the elder brother of John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, who was twice Prime Minister of Britain.

On 8 August 1808, he married the Hon. Anna Maria Stanhope, daughter of Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington, and had by her a son.

Russell died in 1861, aged 73, and was buried on 22 May at the ‘Bedford Chapel’ of St. Michael's Church at Chenies, Buckinghamshire. He was succeeded in his titles by his only son William.

References

  1. Dod, Robert P. (1860). The Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage of Great Britain and Ireland. London: Whitaker and Co. p. 111.
  2. "Russell, Francis, Marquess of Tavistock (RSL807F)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
French Laurence
William Elliot
Member of Parliament for Peterborough
18091812
With: William Elliot
Succeeded by
William Elliot
George Ponsonby
Preceded by
Francis Pym
Hon. Richard FitzPatrick
Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire
18121832
With: Francis Pym 1812–1818, 1820–1826
Sir John Osborn, Bt 1818–1820
Thomas Potter MacQueen 1826–1830
William Stuart 1830–1831
Sir Peter Payne 1831–1832
Succeeded by
Lord Charles Russell
William Stuart
Honorary titles
Preceded by
The Earl de Grey
Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire
1859–1861
Succeeded by
The Earl Cowper
Peerage of England
Preceded by
John Russell
Duke of Bedford
1839–1861
Succeeded by
William Russell
Baron Howland of Streatham
(writ of acceleration)

1833–1861
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