RUSSELL, William (1616-1700), of Woburn Abbey, Beds., Chenies, Bucks. and Bedford House, Strand, Westminster.

Family and Education

b. Aug. 1616, 1st s. of Francis Russell†, 4th earl of Bedford, and Catharine (d. 30 Jan. 1657), da. of Giles Brydges†, 3rd Baron Chandos.; bro. of John Russell*. educ. ?Magdalen, Oxf.; L. Inn 24 Feb. 1630;State Trials, iii. 646; Clarendon, Hist. iii. 155; L. Inn Admiss. i. 210. travelled abroad (France, Spain) 1635-7.Oxford DNB; Letters and Pprs. of the Verney Fam. ed. J. Bruce (Cam. Soc. lvi), 159. m. 11 July 1637 (with £12,000) Anne (1615-84), da. of Robert Carr† (Ker), 1st earl of Somerset, 6s. (3 d.v.p.), 3da (1 d.v.p.).Collins, Peerage; G. Scott Thomson, Life in a Noble Household 1641-1700 (1937), 72; HP Commons 1690-1715, v. 321, 332-3. Kntd. KB 1626, KG 1672.Shaw, Knights of Eng. suc. fa. 9 May 1641 as 5th earl of Bedford; cr. duke of Bedford 1694, Baron Howland 1695. d. 7 Sept. 1700.CP.

Offices Held

Local: ld. lt. (jt. with fa.) Devon, Exeter 30 Mar. 1637 – 9 May 1641, (sole) 10 Feb. 1642–23 Aug. 1643;Sainty, Lords Lieutenants, 18; CJ ii. 424b; iii. 216a. Som. 1642 – 23 Aug. 1643; Beds. ?1642–?, 1689–d.; Cambs. 1689 – d.; Mdx 1692–d.Sainty, Lords Lieutenants, 15, 16, 25; LJ v. 280b. Gov. Bedford Level 1663–d.S.A. Wells, Drainage of the Bedford Level (2 vols. 1830), i. 457. Custos rot. Mdx. 6 Feb. 1692–d.J.C. Sainty Custodes Rotulorum1660–1828 (2002).

Military: gen. of horse (parlian.), 14 July 1642-Aug. 1643.LJ v. 211a; Clarendon, Hist. iii. 143. Lt.-col. of horse (roy.) by Sept. 1643-Dec. 1643.Clarendon, Hist. iii. 193, 246n. Gov. Plymouth 1671.HP Lords 1660–1715, iv. 243.

Central: dep. earl marshal, 1673.CSP Dom. 1673, p. 414. PC, 1689–d.HP Lords 1660–1715, iv. 243.

: Beds., Bucks., Chenies and Bedford House, Westminster., Strand.

Likenesses

Likenesses: oil on canvas, J. Priwitzer, 1627;Woburn Abbey, Beds. oil on canvas, double portrait with Lord George Digby*, A. Van Dyck, 1637-9;Althorp, Northants. oil on canvas, double portrait with wife, A. Van Dyck;Wilton House, Wilts. oil on canvas, P. Lely, 1676;Woburn Abbey, Beds. oil on canvas, studio of P. Lely;NT, Hardwick Hall. oil on canvas, G. Kneller, c.1692;NPG. chalk on copper, E. Lutterell, 1698;NPG. line engraving, G. Glover, aft. 1641;BM; NPG. line engraving, unknown, 1642-3;BM. mezzotint, R. Williams aft. E. Lutterell, c.1698;BM; NPG. fun. monument, attrib. F. Bird, Chenies church, Bucks.

Volume

Commons 1640-1660

Web Title

RUSSELL, William (1616-1700), of Woburn Abbey, Beds., Chenies, Bucks. and Bedford House, Strand, Westminster.

Will

22 June 1700, pr. 5 May 1701.PROB11/460/135.

Estates

Oxford 1644

Addresses

Religion

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