Duke of Bedford (named after

Bedford Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population was 106,940. Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire and seat of the Borough of Bedford local government district. Bedford was founded at a ford (crossin ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

) is a title that has been created six times (for five distinct people) in the

Peerage of England The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. From that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were closed to new creations, and new peers were created in a single Peerag ...

. The first creation came in 1414 for Henry IV's third son, John, who later served as regent of France. In 1433 he surrendered the title and it was re-granted to him. The title became extinct on his death in 1435. The third creation came in 1470 in favour of George Neville, nephew of Warwick the Kingmaker. He was deprived of the title by Act of Parliament in 1478. The fourth creation came in 1478 in favour of George, the third son of

Edward IV Edward IV (28 April 1442 – 9 April 1483) was King of England from 4 March 1461 to 3 October 1470, then again from 11 April 1471 until his death in 1483. He was a central figure in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in England ...

. He died the following year at the age of two. The fifth creation came in 1485 in favour of Jasper Tudor, half-brother of Henry VI and uncle of Henry VII. He had already been created Earl of Pembroke in 1452. However, as he was a Lancastrian, his title was forfeited between 1461 and 1485 during the predominance of the

House of York The House of York was a cadet branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet. Three of its members became kings of England in the late 15th century. The House of York descended in the male line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York ...

. He regained the earldom in 1485 when his nephew Henry VII came to the throne and was elevated to the dukedom the same year. He had no legitimate children and the titles became extinct on his death in 1495. John Russell, a close adviser of

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...

and

Edward VI Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and King of Ireland, Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine. The only surviving son of Henry VIII by his thi ...

, was granted the title of Earl of Bedford in 1551, and his descendant William, 5th Earl, was created Duke in 1694, following the

Glorious Revolution The Glorious Revolution, also known as the Revolution of 1688, was the deposition of James II and VII, James II and VII in November 1688. He was replaced by his daughter Mary II, Mary II and her Dutch husband, William III of Orange ...

. The Russell family currently holds the titles of Earl and Duke of Bedford. The subsidiary titles of the Duke of Bedford, all in the

, are Marquess of Tavistock (created 1694), Earl of Bedford (1550), Baron Russell, of Cheneys (1539), Baron Russell of Thornhaugh in the County of

Northampton Northampton ( ) is a town and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England. It is the county town of Northamptonshire and the administrative centre of the Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority of West Northamptonshire. The town is sit ...

(1603), and Baron Howland, of

Streatham Streatham ( ) is a district in south London, England. Centred south of Charing Cross, it lies mostly within the London Borough of Lambeth, with some parts extending into the neighbouring London Borough of Wandsworth. Streatham was in Surrey ...

in the County of

Surrey Surrey () is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Greater London to the northeast, Kent to the east, East Sussex, East and West Sussex to the south, and Hampshire and Berkshire to the wes ...

(1695). The

courtesy title A courtesy title is a title that does not have legal significance but is rather used by custom or courtesy, particularly, in the context of nobility, the titles used by children of members of the nobility (cf. substantive title). In some context ...

of the Duke of Bedford's eldest son and heir is ''Marquess of Tavistock''. Every duke from the 5th Duke onwards is descended from

Charles II of England Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651 and King of England, Scotland, and King of Ireland, Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II was the eldest su ...

. The family seat is

Woburn Abbey Woburn Abbey (), occupying the east of the village of Woburn, Bedfordshire, England, is a country house, the family seat of the Duke of Bedford. Although it is still a family home to the current duke, it is open on specified days to visitors, ...

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated ''Beds'') is a Ceremonial County, ceremonial county in the East of England. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Hertfordshire to the south and the south-east, and Buckin ...

. The private mausoleum and chapel of the Russell Family and the Dukes of Bedford is at St. Michael's Church in Chenies,

Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (, abbreviated ''Bucks'') is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-east, Hertfordshir ...

photo
. The family owns The Bedford Estate in central London.

Dukes of Bedford, first Creation (1414)

:''Other titles: Earl of Kendal (1414) and

Earl of Richmond The now-extinct title of Earl of Richmond was created many times in the Peerage of Peerage of England, England. The earldom of Richmond, North Yorkshire, Richmond was initially held by various Breton people, Breton nobles; sometimes the holde ...

(1414)'' * John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford (1389–1435), third son of Henry IV

Dukes of Bedford, second Creation (1433)

:''Other titles: Earl of Kendal (1414) and Earl of Richmond (1414)'' * John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford (1389–1435), regranted his dukedom with the standard remainder, died without issue

Dukes of Bedford, third Creation (1470)

:''Other titles: Marquess of Montagu (1470) and Baron Montagu (1461)'' * George Neville, Duke of Bedford (1457–1483), nephew of Warwick the Kingmaker, succeeded as Marquess of Montagu and Baron Montagu in 1471, deprived of all of his honours in 1478

Dukes of Bedford, fourth Creation (1478)

* George Plantagenet, Duke of Bedford (1477–1479), third son of

, died in infancy

Dukes of Bedford, fifth Creation (1485)

:''Other titles:

Earl of Pembroke Earl of Pembroke is a title in the Peerage of England that was first created in the 12th century by King Stephen of England. The title, which is associated with Pembroke, Pembrokeshire in West Wales, has been recreated ten times from its origin ...

(1452)'' * Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford (1431–1495), uncle of Henry VII, regained his earldom a few months after his nephew's accession. He died without legitimate issue.

Earls of Bedford (1551)

:''Other titles: Baron Russell (1539)'' * John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford (c. 1485–1555), a close advisor of

, was later created Earl of Bedford, by then a close advisor of Henry's son

, was further honoured by him * Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford (1527–1585), son of the 1st Earl **Edward Russell, Lord Russell (1551–1572), eldest son of the 2nd Earl **John Russell, 3rd Baron Russell (c. 1553–1584), second son of the 2nd Earl, summoned to Parliament by writ of acceleration **Francis Russell, Lord Russell (c. 1554–1585), third son of the 2nd Earl **William Russell, 1st Baron Russell of Thornhaugh (c.1557–1613), fourth son of the 2nd Earl * Edward Russell, 3rd Earl of Bedford (1572–1627), son of Francis, Lord Russell :''Other titles (4th Earl onwards): Baron Russell of Thornhaugh (1603)'' * Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford (1593–1641), cousin of the 3rd Earl and son of Lord Russell of Thornhaugh (fourth son of the 2nd Earl) * William Russell, 5th Earl of Bedford (1616–1700), eldest son of the 4th Earl, was created Duke of Bedford in 1694 **Francis Russell, Lord Russell (1638–1679), eldest son of the 5th Earl, died unmarried ** Rt. Hon. William Russell, Lord Russell (1639–1683), second son of the 5th Earl, father of the 2nd Duke,''Burke's Peerage & Baronetage''
/ref> was attainted and executed in 1683

Origins

Dukes of Bedford, sixth Creation (1694)

William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford :''Other titles: Marquess of Tavistock (1694), Baron Howland (1695), Earl of Bedford (1551), Baron Russell (1538) and Baron Russell of Thornhaugh (1603)'' * William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford (1616–1700), was created Duke of Bedford in 1694, after the

**Francis Russell, Lord Russell (1638–1679), eldest son of the 1st Duke, died unmarried ** Rt. Hon. William Russell, Lord Russell (1639–1683), second son of the 1st Duke * Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford (1680–1711), only son of Rt. Hon. William Russell, Lord Russell (whose attainder had been reversed in 1688) **William Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (1703), eldest son of the 2nd Duke, died in infancy **William Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (1704–c. 1707), second son of the 2nd Duke, died young * Wriothesley Russell, 3rd Duke of Bedford (1708–1732), third son of the 2nd Duke, died without issue *

John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford (30 September 17105 January 1771) was a British Whigs (British political party), Whig statesman and peer who served as the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1757 to 1761. A leading member of the Whig party durin ...

(1710–1771), fourth and youngest son of the 2nd Duke **John Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (1732–1732), eldest son of the 4th Duke, died in infancy ** Francis Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (1739–1767), second son of the 4th Duke and father of the 5th and 6th Dukes * Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford (1765–1802), eldest son of Lord Tavistock, died without issue * John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (1766–1839), second son of Lord Tavistock * Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford (1788–1861), eldest son of the 6th Duke * William Russell, 8th Duke of Bedford (1809–1872), only son of the 7th Duke, died unmarried * Francis Charles Hastings Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford (1819–1891), eldest son of Maj.-Gen. Lord George Russell, second son of the 6th Duke * George William Francis Sackville Russell, 10th Duke of Bedford (1852–1893), eldest son of the 9th Duke, died without legitimate issue issue. * Herbrand Arthur Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford (1858–1940), second son of the 9th Duke * Hastings William Sackville Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford (1888–1953), only son of the 11th Duke * John Ian Robert Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford (1917–2002), eldest son of the 12th Duke * Henry Robin Ian Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford (1940–2003), eldest son of the 13th Duke * Andrew Ian Henry Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford (born 1962), eldest son of the 14th Duke The

heir apparent An heir apparent is a person who is first in the order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person. A person who is first in the current order of succession but could be displaced by the birth of a more e ...

is the present holder's only son Henry Robin Charles Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (b. 2005).

Line of succession (simplified)

''John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (1766–1839)'' **'' Lord George William Russell (1790–1846)'' *** Coronet of a British Duke

''(Francis) Hastings Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford (1819–1891)'' **** Coronet of a British Duke

''Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford (1858–1940)'' ***** Coronet of a British Duke

''Hastings Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford (1888–1953)'' ****** Coronet of a British Duke

''Ian Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford (1917–2002)'' ******* Coronet of a British Duke

''Robin Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford (1940–2003)'' ******** Coronet of a British Duke

Andrew Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford (born 1962) *********(1). Henry Robin Charles Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (born 2005) ********(2). Lord Robin Loel Hastings Russell (born 1963) ********(3). Lord James Edward Herbrand Russell (born 1975) *********(4). Alexander Charles Robin Russell (born 2010) *********(5). Leo William Caspar Russell (born 2013) *******(6). Lord Rudolf Russell (born 1944) *******(7). Lord Francis Hastings Russell (born 1950) ********(8). John Francis Russell (born 1997) ********(9). Harry Evelyn Terence Russell (born 1999) ******''Lord Hugh Hastings Russell (1923–2005)'' *******male issue in line ***'' Lord Arthur John Edward Russell (1825–1892)'' ****''Harold John Hastings Russell (1868–1926)'' *****''Anthony Arthur Russell (1904–1978)'' ******male issue in line ****'' Gilbert Byng Alwyne Russell (1875–1942)'' *****''Martin Basil Paul Russell (1918–2003)'' ******male issue in line *** Coronet of a British Baron

''Odo Russell, 1st Baron Ampthill (1829–1884)'' ****'' Barons Ampthill'' ** Coronet of a British Earl

''John Russell, 1st Earl Russell (1792–1878)'' ***'' Earls Russell'' **'' Lord Charles James Fox Russell (1807–1894)'' ***''Henry Charles Russell (1842–1922)'' ****'' Sir Thomas Wentworth Russell (1879–1954)'' *****'' Sir John Wriothesley Russell (1914–1984)'' ******male issue in line

Family trees

References

External links

*
Heraldry of the Russell Family
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bedford Dukedoms in the Peerage of England Bedford Estate Duke of Bedford Noble titles created in 1414 Noble titles created in 1433 Noble titles created in 1470 Noble titles created in 1478 Noble titles created in 1485 Noble titles created in 1694