George Russell, 10th Duke of Bedford

Who was George Russell, 10th Duke of Bedford?

George William Francis Sackville Russell, 10th Duke of Bedford DL was the son of Francis Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford.

Russell graduated from Balliol College, Oxford in 1874 with a Bachelor of Arts and was admitted to Lincoln's Inn, as a barrister.

On 24 October 1876, he married Lady Adeline Marie Somers, daughter of Charles Somers, 3rd Earl Somers. They had no children, but it is known that he had at least one illegitimate child, an Indian daughter. She lived with the pair until her father died and was then sent to live with her uncle, Herbrand Russell, and his family. She lived on the estate until she was married.

Russell was a Liberal member of parliament for Bedfordshire between 1875 and 1885, when the constituency was abolished. He was High Sheriff of Bedfordshire in 1889 and was later a Deputy Lieutenant of the county.

In 1891, Russell inherited the title of Duke of Bedford, together with Woburn Abbey and several other estates which went with it, including Chenies, Buckinghamshire, and an area of central London around Bedford Square.

In 1893, at the age of forty, he died of diabetes, at number 37, Chesham Place, London, and was buried at Chenies.