Duke of Bedford


Duke of Bedford is a title that has been created six times 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, 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 1478 in favour of George, 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, 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, was granted the title of Earl of Bedford in 1551, and his descendant William, 5th Earl, was created Duke following the Glorious Revolution.
The subsidiary titles of the Duke of Bedford, all in the Peerage of England, are Marquess of Tavistock, Earl of Bedford, Baron Russell, of Cheneys, Baron Russell of Thornhaugh in the County of Northampton, and Baron Howland, of Streatham in the County of Surrey . The courtesy title of the Duke of Bedford's eldest son and heir is Marquess of Tavistock.
Every Duke from the 5th Duke onwards is descended from Charles II of England. The family seat is Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire. The private mausoleum and chapel of the Russell Family and the Dukes of Bedford is at St. Michael's Church in Chenies, Buckinghamshire. The family owns The Bedford Estate in central London.

Dukes of Bedford, first Creation (1414)

The heir apparent is the present holder's only son Henry Robin Charles Russell, Marquess of Tavistock.

Line of succession

  1. Henry Robin Charles Russell, Marquess of Tavistock, son of the 15th Duke
  2. Lord James Edward Herbrand Russell, third and youngest son of the 14th Duke
  3. Alexander Charles Robin Russell, eldest son of Lord James
  4. Leo William Caspar Russell, second and youngest son of Lord James
  5. Lord Rudolf Russell, second son of the 13th Duke
  6. Lord Francis Hastings Russell, third and youngest son of the 13th Duke
  7. John Francis Russell, eldest son of Lord Francis
  8. Harry Evelyn Terence Russell, second and youngest son of Lord Francis
  9. Mark Hugh Russell, only son of Lord Hugh Hastings Russell, second and youngest son of the 12th Duke
  10. Laurie Stewart Russell, only son of Mark Russell

    Family Tree