RUSSELL, Wriothesley (1708-32)

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. F. Harris, A Passion for Government, 260. 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. London Journal, 30 Sept. 1732. 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. G.F. Thomas, ‘John, 4th Duke of Bedford’, (Univ. of Wales, MA thesis, 1953). His widow later married William Villiers^†, 3rd earl of Jersey. It was left to his successor, John, to rebuild the family finances.