Duke of Bedford

Dukedom of Bedford 5th Creation
Creation date	11 May 1694
Created by	King William III Queen Mary II
Peerage	Peerage of England
First holder	William Russell, 5th Earl of Bedford
Present holder	Andrew Russell, 15th Duke
Heir apparent	Henry Russell, Marquess of Tavistock
Remainder to	the 1st Duke's heirs male of the body lawfully begotten.
Subsidiary titles	Marquess of Tavistock Earl of Bedford Baron Russell Baron Russell of Thornhaugh Baron Howland

William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford

Duke of Bedford (named after Bedford, England) is a title that has been created five times in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1414 in favour of Henry IV's third son, John, who later served as regent of France. He was made Earl of Kendal at the same time and was made Earl of Richmond later the same year. The titles became extinct on his death in 1435. The second 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 third creation came 1478 in favour of George, the third son of Edward IV. He died the following year at the age of two. The fourth 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 a Lancastrian, his title was forfeited between 1461 and 1485 during the predominance of the House 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.

The Russell family currently holds the titles of Earl and Duke of Bedford. John Russell, a close advisor of Henry VIII and Edward VI, was granted the title of Earl of Bedford in 1551, and his descendant William, 5th Earl, was created Duke following the Glorious Revolution.

The subsidiary titles of the Duke of Bedford, all in the Peerage of England, are: Marquess of Tavistock (created 1694), Earl of Bedford (1550), Baron Russell, of Cheneys (1539), Baron Russell of Thornhaugh in the County of Northampton (1603), and Baron Howland, of Streatham in the County of Surrey (1695) (and possibly the Barony of Bedford, which was merged into it in 1138, 1366 or 1414). The courtesy title of the Duke of Bedford's eldest son and heir is Marquess of Tavistock.

The family seat is Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire. The private mausoleum and chapel of the Russell Family and the Dukes of Bedford is at St. Michael’s Church in Chenies, Buckinghamshire.

Dukes of Bedford, first Creation (1414, for life)

subsidiary title: Earl of Kendal (1414); also Earl of Richmond (1414)

• John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford (1389–1435), third son of Henry IV, surrendered his dukedom

Dukes of Bedford, second Creation (1433)

also Earl of Kendal (1414) and Earl of Richmond (1414)

• John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford (1389–1435), regranted his dukedom with the standard remainder,^[1] died without issue

Dukes of Bedford, third Creation (1470)

also Marquess of Montagu (1470) and Baron Montagu (1461)

• George Neville, 1st 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, 1st Duke of Bedford (1477–1479), third son of Edward IV, died in infancy

Dukes of Bedford, fifth Creation (1485)

also Earl of Pembroke (1452)

• Jasper Tudor, 1st 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)

also Baron Russell (1538)

• John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford (c. 1485–1554/5), a close advisor of Henry VIII, was later created Earl of Bedford, by then a close advisor of Henry's son Edward VI, 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
• Edward Russell, 3rd Earl of Bedford (1572–1627), son of Francis, Lord Russell

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 and 1st Duke, died unmarried
  • Rt. Hon. William Russell, Lord Russell (1639–1683), second son of the 5th Earl and 1st Duke, father of the 2nd Duke,^[2] was attainted and executed in 1683

Dukes of Bedford, sixth Creation (1694)

subsidiary titles Marquess of Tavistock and Baron Howland; also 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 Glorious Revolution
  • 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), second son of the 1st Duke

• 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 (1710–1771), fourth and youngest son of the 2nd Duke

• John Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (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 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 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 (b. 1962), eldest son of the 14th Duke

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

Coat of arms

The heraldic blazon for the coat of arms of the Russell dukedom is: Argent, a lion rampant gules; on a chief sable, three escallops of the first.

See also

• Baron Russell of Thornhaugh
• Earl Russell
• Baron Ampthill

References

1. ^ Cracroft – Extinct dukedoms of England
2. ^ Burke's Peerage & Baronetage

Cateogry:House of Russell