Gertrude Russell, Duchess of Bedford (15 February 1715 – 1 July 1794), formerly the Hon. Gertrude Leveson-Gower, was the second wife of

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 ...

. She was the eldest daughter of

John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower, PC (10 August 1694 – 25 December 1754) was a British Tory politician who served as Lord Privy Seal from 1742 to 1743 and again from 1744 to 1754. Leveson-Gower also served in the Parliament of Great Brita ...

, and his wife, the former Lady Evelyn Pierrepont.Cokayne, G.E.; Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors. The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed.. 13 volumes in 14. 1910-1959. Reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000. She married the Duke of Bedford on 2 April 1737. The earl's first wife, the former Lady Diana Spencer, had died in 1735, of

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB), also known colloquially as the "white death", or historically as consumption, is a contagious disease usually caused by ''Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can al ...

; Diana's only child by the earl - John Russell, Marquess of Tavistock - had died in infancy. Following her marriage, Gertrude brought with her to the household at

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, ...

her former nurse, a Mrs Cradock, whose son Thomas became a clergyman and poet. The duchess was described by

Horace Walpole Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (; 24 September 1717 – 2 March 1797), better known as Horace Walpole, was an English Whig politician, writer, historian and antiquarian. He had Strawberry Hill House built in Twickenham, southwest London ...

as being "stingy" and "avaricious". Nevertheless, in 1748 she held a ball which was attended by the King George II, which was described by

Henry Fielding Henry Fielding (22 April 1707 – 8 October 1754) was an English writer and magistrate known for the use of humour and satire in his works. His 1749 comic novel ''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'' was a seminal work in the genre. Along wi ...

as "a most noble entertainment". It was also said that she "understood thoroughly the value of court smiles", and in 1762 she attended the French court at Versailles in an ambassadorial role. She was interested in art; her portrait was painted by Sir

Joshua Reynolds Sir Joshua Reynolds (16 July 1723 – 23 February 1792) was an English painter who specialised in portraits. The art critic John Russell (art critic), John Russell called him one of the major European painters of the 18th century, while Lucy P ...

in 1756 and is held in the collection at the family seat of

. She was also painted by Thomas Hudson. She is believed to have been an amateur artist, though not a skilled one.

Children

The duke and duchess had two children: * Francis Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (1739-1767), who married Lady Elizabeth Keppel and had children, including

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 ...

, and

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 father ...

. The Marquess of Tavistock predeceased his father, dying as a result of a fall from his horse. * Lady Caroline Russell (1743-1811), who married George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough, and had children.

Death and legacy

The duchess died at the age of 79 and was buried on 7 July 1794 at Chenies, Buckinghamshire.

Gower Street, London Gower Street is a two-way street in Bloomsbury, central London, running from Euston Road at the north to Montague Place in the south. The street continues as North Gower Street north of Euston Road, while to the south it becomes Bloomsbury S ...

, is named after the duchess.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bedford, Gertrude Russell, Duchess of 1715 births 1794 deaths 18th-century English nobility 18th-century English women Daughters of British earls Duchesses of Bedford Leveson-Gower family