John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford

John Russell 4th Duke of Bedford KG, PC, FRS ( born October 30, 1710 in Streatham, † November 15, 1771 in Chenies ) was a British nobleman and politician.

Life

John was the son of Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford, and his wife Elizabeth Howland, the heiress of Streatham. He followed his older brother Wriothesley in 1732 as Duke of Bedford.

As a British statesman, he was one of the most prominent opponents of Robert Walpole. John Russell was first under Henry Pelham Lord of the Admiralty, and later Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1757-1761), Lord Privy Seal (1761-1763) and British Ambassador to France (1762-1763), where he in the negotiations to end the Seven Years' War played a crucial role. From 1763 to 1765 he was Lord President of the Council.

Progeny

From his 1731 closed first marriage to Diane Spencer, daughter of Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl of Sunderland, which earned him a considerable fortune, comes a son:

  • John (* / † 1732), Marquess of Tavistock

From his second marriage to Gertrude († 1794), daughter of John Leveson - Gower, 1st Earl Gower, come two more children:

John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower Integrated Authority File
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