styled 1708-11 mq. of Tavistock; suc. fa. 26 May 1711 (a minor) as 3rd duke of BEDFORD
First sat 13 Jan. 1730; last sat 29 May 1732
b. 25 May 1708, 3rd but 1st surv. s. of Wriothesley Russell, 2nd duke of Bedford, and Elizabeth Howland (d.1724); bro. of John Russell, later 4th duke of Bedford. m. 22 Apr. 1725, Anne, da. of Scroop Egerton, duke of Bridgwater, s.p.1 d. 23 Oct. 1732; will 30 Apr. 1730, pr. 10 Dec. 1732.2
Gov. Fen Co. 1729.3
Associated with: Woburn, Beds.; Chenies, Bucks.
Likenesses: pencil drawing by H. Bone aft. Isaac Whood, 1823, NPG.
Tavistock (as he was styled from birth) succeeded to the title while still an infant. During his long minority, his interest and management of the extensive Bedford estates was the subject of dispute.4 Details of this and of his brief parliamentary career will be considered in the second part of this work.
Bedford died in Spain while still a young man. He had been put ashore after falling sick on board the Torrington man-of-war, which was supposed to be carrying him overseas for his health.5 His corpse was brought home in the same vessel and interred with other members of his family at Chenies. Bedford left his estate in some disarray after an unsuccessful career at the gaming tables.6 His widow later married William Villiers†, 3rd earl of Jersey. It was left to his successor, John, to rebuild the family finances.
R.D.E.E.