Andrew Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford

The Duke of Bedford
Born	(1962-03-30) 30 March 1962
Title	Duke of Bedford
Tenure	13 June 2003 – present
Other titles	Lord Howland (1962-2002) Marquess of Tavistock (2002-2003)
Predecessor	Robin Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford
Heir	Henry Russell, Marquess of Tavistock
Spouse(s)	Louise Rona Crammond (m. 2000)
Issue	Lady Alexandra Russell Henry Russell, Marquess of Tavistock
Parents	Robin Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford Henrietta Joan née Tiarks

Andrew Ian Henry Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford (born 30 March 1962) is the son of Henry Robin Ian Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford, and his wife, Henrietta Joan Tiarks.

Biography

Russell was educated at Hall School, Hampstead and Heatherdown School, near Ascot in Berkshire, followed by Harrow School and Harvard, where he received his BA degree. He was known as Lord Howland until his grandfather's death in 2002, when he adopted the courtesy title Marquess of Tavistock, previously held by his father, Robin Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford. He succeeded to the Dukedom of Bedford the following year after his father suffered a fatal stroke. He also succeeded to the titles of 19th Earl of Bedford, 15th Marquess of Tavistock, 17th Baron Russell of Thornhaugh, and 15th Baron Howland of Streatham, all on 13 June 2003. Since then has been styled His Grace The Duke of Bedford.^[1] He is also a descendant of Mary Boleyn, sister of Anne Boleyn.

In 2011, Russell ranked 145th in the Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated wealth of £520 million. According to the Daily Mail the Duke is busy refurbishing much of the London estate as well as running Woburn Abbey, Safari Park and Golf Club.^[2] The family live at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire.

Family and children

Russell married Louise Rona Crammond, daughter of Donald Ian Crammond and his wife Rona Zara Clifford-Johns and stepdaughter of Sir Evelyn Delves Broughton, 12th Baronet, of Doddington Park on 16 October 2000 at Westminster, London. They have two children:

• Lady Alexandra Lucy Clare Russell (b. 2001)
• Henry Robin Charles Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (b. London, 7 June 2005)

Ancestry

Patrilineal descent^[3]

• Sir John Russell, knight of the Household of King John, died 1224
• Sir Ralph Russell, knight of the Household of King Henry III of England, born 1204
• Sir William Russell, feudal Baron of North Cadbury, Somerset, (1257–1311)
• Sir Theobald Russell, 1303–1349, married Eleanor de Gorges, daughter of Ralph III, 1st Baron Gorges
• William Russell, M.P. for Melcombe in 1340, died after 1380
• Stephen Russell or Gascon, first well-known ancestor, 1380–1438, M.P. for Weymouth in 1394, married Alice de la Tour, heiress of both de la Tour and Blynchesfield families.
• Sir Henry Russell, died in 1464, landowner and merchant, married Elizabeth Herring, M.P. for Weymouth, Speaker of the House of Commons, Sheriff of Dorset
• John Russell, 1431–1505, married Alice Froxmere
• James Russell, 1455–1509, married Alice Wyse
• John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford (c. 1485–1554/5)
• Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford (1527–1585)
• William Russell, 1st Baron Russell of Thornhaugh (1557–1613)
• Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford (1593–1641)
• William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford (1616–1700)
• Rt. Hon. William Russell, Lord Russell (1639–1683)
• Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford (1680–1711)
• John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford (1710–1771)
• Francis Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (1739–1767)
• John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (1766–1839)
• Maj.-Gen. Lord George Russell (1790–1846)
• Francis Charles Hastings Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford (1819–1891)
• Herbrand Arthur Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford (1858–1940)
• Hastings William Sackville Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford (1888–1953)
• John Ian Robert Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford (1917–2002)
• Henry Robin Ian Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford (1940–2003)
• Andrew Ian Henry Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford (b. 1962)

Titles from birth

• 30 March 1962 - 10 October 2002: Lord Howland
• 10 October 2002 - 13 June 2003: Marquess of Tavistock
• 13 June 2003 – present: His Grace The Duke of Bedford

References

• Peerage – Andrew Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford
• Andrew Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford

Dukes in the peerages of Britain and Ireland*
Royal dukes	Cornwall & Rothesay Gloucester Kent Edinburgh York Cambridge
Others	Norfolk Somerset Richmond, Lennox & Gordon Hamilton & Brandon Buccleuch & Queensberry Grafton Beaufort St Albans Bedford Devonshire Argyll Marlborough Rutland Atholl Montrose Roxburghe Manchester Northumberland Leinster Wellington Sutherland Abercorn Westminster Fife
* Current title holders, listed by date of creation, from earliest to most recent