Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford
Encyclopedia
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.
and his first wife Hon. Georgiana Byng, second daughter of George Byng, 4th Viscount Torrington
. Russell was educated at Westminster School
and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge
in 1808, with a Master of Arts
. He succeeded his father as duke in 1839.
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
. Russell was sworn of a Privy Counsellor 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 and was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire
in 1859, a post he held until his death in 1861.
, 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 Chenies
, Buckinghamshire
. He was succeeded in his titles by his only son William
.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
, PC (13 May 1788 – 14 May 1861), styled Marquess of Tavistock from 1802 to 1839, was a British peer and Whig politician.
Background and education
He was the son of John Russell, 6th Duke of BedfordJohn Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford KG, PC, LLD, FSA , known as Lord John Russell until 1802, was a British Whig politician and notably served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in the Ministry of All the Talents...
and his first wife Hon. Georgiana Byng, second daughter of George Byng, 4th Viscount Torrington
George Byng, 4th Viscount Torrington
George Byng was the 4th Viscount Torrington, son of George Byng, 3rd Viscount Torrington and Elizabeth Daniel.He gained the title 4th Viscount Torrington at the death of his father in 1750....
. Russell was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
in 1808, with a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
. He succeeded his father as duke in 1839.
Career
He entered the British House of CommonsBritish House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
in 1809, sitting as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Peterborough
Peterborough (UK Parliament constituency)
Peterborough is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, formally styled The Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past...
in the next three years. Subsequently Russell represented Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Bedfordshire was a United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency, which elected two Members of Parliament from 1295 until 1885, when it was divided into two constituencies under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885.-History:...
until 1832. In the following year, he was summoned to the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
in his father's junior title Baron Howland of Streatham by a writ of acceleration
Writ of acceleration
A writ in acceleration, commonly called a writ of acceleration, was a type of writ of summons to the British House of Lords that enabled the eldest son and heir apparent of a peer with multiple peerage titles to attend the British House of Lords or Irish House of Lords, using one of his father's...
. Russell was sworn of a Privy Counsellor on 6 July 1846 and was invested as a Knight of the Order of the Garter
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
on 26 March 1847. He was made a Special Deputy Warden of the Stannaries in 1852 and was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire
Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire. Since 1711, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Bedfordshire.*William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton 1549–1551...
in 1859, a post he held until his death in 1861.
Family
Russell was the elder brother of John RussellJohn Russell, 1st Earl Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, KG, GCMG, PC , known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was an English Whig and Liberal politician who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century....
, 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
Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington
General Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington PC, PC , styled Viscount Petersham until 1779, was a British soldier. Stanhope is sometimes confused with an exact contemporary of his, the 3rd Earl Stanhope....
, and had by her a son.
Russell died in 1861, aged 73, and was buried on 22 May at Chenies
Chenies
Chenies is a village in the very eastern part of south Buckinghamshire, England, near the border with Hertfordshire. It is situated to the east of Chesham and the Chalfonts. Chenies is also a civil parish within Chiltern district....
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
. He was succeeded in his titles by his only son William
William Russell, 8th Duke of Bedford
William Russell, 8th Duke of Bedford was a British Whig politician. He was the son of Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford and his wife Anna Maria Stanhope....
.