Duke of Bedford (named after

Bedford Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population of the Bedford built-up area (including Biddenham and Kempston) was 106,940, making it the second-largest settlement in Bedfordshire, behind Luton, whilst ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

) is a title that has been created six times (for five distinct people) in the Peerage of England. The first and second creations came in 1414 and 1433 respectively, in favour of Henry IV's third son,

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Secon ...

, 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 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 George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presid ...

, the third son of Edward IV. He died the following year at the age of two. The fifth creation came in 1485 in favour of

Jasper Tudor Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford (November 143121/26 December 1495), was the uncle of King Henry VII of England and a leading architect of his nephew's successful accession to the throne in 1485. He was from the noble Tudor family of Penmynydd i ...

, 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. 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 adviser of Henry VIII and

Edward VI Edward VI (12 October 1537 – 6 July 1553) was King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death in 1553. He was crowned on 20 February 1547 at the age of nine. Edward was the son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour and the first E ...

, 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 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 Barony of England, Bedford, England. First creation *Created for Paine de Beauchamp, by William Rufus * William de Beauchamp - forfeit for rebelling in the First Barons' War * Faukes de Brent - sent by King John of England to enforce Willi ...

, 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 Tavistock ( ) is an ancient stannary and market town within West Devon, England. It is situated on the River Tavy from which its name derives. At the 2011 census the three electoral wards (North, South and South West) had a population of 13 ...

''. Every Duke from the 5th Duke onwards is descended from Charles II of England. 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 in the East of England. The county has been administered by three unitary authorities, Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, since Bedfordshire County Council ...

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

Chenies Chenies is a village and civil parish in south-east Buckinghamshire, England. It is on the border with Hertfordshire, east of Amersham and north of Chorleywood. History Until the 13th century, the village name was Isenhampstead. There were two ...

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

Dukes of Bedford, first Creation (1414)

:''Other titles:

Earl of Kendal Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. The title originates in the Old English word ''eorl'', meaning "a man of noble birth or rank". The word is cognate with the Scandinavian form ''jarl'', and meant "chieftain", particular ...

(1414) and

Earl of Richmond The now-extinct title of Earl of Richmond was created many times in the Peerage of England. The earldom of Richmond was initially held by various Breton nobles; sometimes the holder was the Breton duke himself, including one member of the ca ...

(1414)'' *

John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford KG (20 June 138914 September 1435) was a medieval English prince, general and statesman who commanded England's armies in France during a critical phase of the Hundred Years' War. Bedford was the third son of ...

(1389–1435), third son of Henry IV

Dukes of Bedford, second Creation (1433)

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

(1389–1435), regranted his dukedom with the standard remainder, died without issue

Dukes of Bedford, third Creation (1470)

:''Other titles:

Marquess of Montagu The title of Marquess of Montagu was created in 1470 for John Neville, 1st Earl of Northumberland, younger brother of Warwick the Kingmaker. Montagu was killed at the Battle of Barnet in 1471, and was attainted and the peerage forfeit. Marques ...

(1470) and

Baron Montagu The titles Baron Montacute or Baron Montagu were created several times in the Peerage of England for members of the House of Montagu. The family name was List of Latinised names, Latinised to ''de Monte Acuto'', meaning "from the sharp mounta ...

(1461)'' *

George Neville, Duke of Bedford George Neville, Duke of Bedford (1465 – 4 May 1483) was an English nobleman, a scion of the House of Neville. At birth, he was likely heir to great wealth, but due to the political failure of his father and uncle, he inherited very little. He ...

(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 Edward IV, 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 Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford (November 143121/26 December 1495), was the uncle of King Henry VII of England and a leading architect of his nephew's successful accession to the throne in 1485. He was from the noble Tudor family of Penmynydd i ...

(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 Henry VIII, 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 A writ in acceleration, commonly called a writ of acceleration, is a type of writ of summons that enabled the eldest son and heir apparent of a peer with more than one peerage to attend the British or Irish House of Lords, using one of his father ...

**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 Edward Russell, 3rd Earl of Bedford (20 December 1572 – 3 May 1627) was an English nobleman and politician. Early life He was the son of Sir Francis Russell, Lord Russell and his wife, Eleanor Forster.Collins, A. (1720). ''The Baronettag ...

(1572–1627), son of Francis, Lord Russell :''Other titles (4th Earl onwards):

Baron Russell of Thornhaugh Baron Russell of Thornhaugh is a title in the Peerage of England. It was created in 1603 for the English military leader, the Honourable Sir William Russell. He was the fourth son of Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford. His son succeeded as Ea ...

(1603)'' *

Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford PC (1587 – 9 May 1641) was an English nobleman and politician. He built the square of Covent Garden, with the piazza and church of St. Paul's, employing Inigo Jones as his architect. He is also known fo ...

(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, was attainted and executed in 1683

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 William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford KG PC (August 1616 – 7 September 1700) was an English nobleman and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 until 1641 when he inherited his Peerage as 5th Earl of Bedford and removed to the ...

(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 Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford KG (1 November 1680 – 26 May 1711) was an English nobleman and politician. He was the son of William Russell, Lord Russell, and his wife Lady Rachel Wriothesley. From 1683 until 1694, he was styled Lo ...

(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 Wriothesley Russell, 3rd Duke of Bedford (25 May 1708 – 23 October 1732) was an English nobleman and peer. He was the son of Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford. Russell married his sister's stepdaughter, Lady Anne Egerton, daughter of ...

(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 an 18th-century British statesman.G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peer ...

(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 Francis Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (27 September 1739 – 22 March 1767) was a British politician and the eldest son of the John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, 4th Duke of Bedford and his second wife Gertrude Russell, Duchess of Bedford, Lady G ...

(1739–1767), second son of the 4th Duke and father of the 5th and 6th Dukes *

Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford (23 July 1765 – 2 March 1802) was an English aristocrat and Whig politician, responsible for much of the development of central Bloomsbury. Life Francis Russell, eldest son of Francis Russell, Marquess of ...

(1765–1802), eldest son of Lord Tavistock, died without issue *

John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford, (6 July 1766 – 20 October 1839), known as Lord John Russell until 1802, was a British Whig politician who notably served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in the Ministry of All the Talents. He was the fathe ...

(1766–1839), second son of Lord Tavistock *

Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford Francis may refer to: People *Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State and Bishop of Rome * Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Francis (surname) Places * Rural ...

(1788–1861), eldest son of the 6th Duke *

William Russell, 8th Duke of Bedford William Russell, 8th Duke of Bedford (1 July 1809 – 27 May 1872) was a British Whig politician. He was the son of Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford and his wife Anna Maria Stanhope. Russell was educated at Eton College and Christ Churc ...

(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 (born 1962), eldest son of the 14th Duke The

heir apparent An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...

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

Line of succession

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

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

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

Andrew Ian Henry Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford (born 1962) *****(1). Henry Robin Charles Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (b. 2005) ****(2). Lord Robin Loel Hastings Russell (b. 1963) ****(3). Lord James Edward Herbrand Russell (b. 1975) *****(4). Alexander Charles Robin Russell (b. 2010) *****(5). Leo William Caspar Russell (b. 2013) ***(6). Lord Rudolf Russell (b. 1944) ***(7). Lord Francis Hastings Russell (b. 1950) ****(8). John Francis Russell (b. 1997) ****(9). Harry Evelyn Terence Russell (b. 1999) **''Lord Hugh Hastings Russell (1923–2005)'' ***(10). Mark Hugh Russell (b. 1960) ****(11). Laurie Stewart Russell (b. 1990)

Family Tree

References

External links

*
Heraldry of the Russell Family
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bedford Dukedoms in the Peerage of England Bedford Estate

Duke of Bedford Duke of Bedford (named after Bedford, England) is a title that has been created six times (for five distinct people) in the Peerage of England. The first and second creations came in 1414 and 1433 respectively, in favour of Henry IV's third so ...

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

Dukes of Bedford, first Creation (1414)

Dukes of Bedford, second Creation (1433)

Dukes of Bedford, third Creation (1470)

Dukes of Bedford, fourth Creation (1478)

Dukes of Bedford, fifth Creation (1485)

Earls of Bedford (1551)

Dukes of Bedford, sixth Creation (1694)

Line of succession

Family Tree

See also

References

External links