Duke of Bedford
Duke of Bedford is a hereditary British title of nobility awarded five times in the Peerage of England . The title is named after Bedford in England .
The family seat of the present Dukes is Woburn Abbey near Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire ; until 1918 they also owned Bedford House in London .
Awards
The title was first awarded on May 16, 1414 to John of Lancaster , the third son of King Henry IV and later regent of France. Together with the duke he was given the subordinate title Earl of Kendal , and on November 24, 1414 the title Earl of Richmond . Since he remained childless, the titles expired on his death on September 14, 1435.
On January 5, 1470, the title of King Edward IV was bestowed on George Neville, the only and still minor son of John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu and nephew of Richard Neville (called Warwick the Kingmaker). He was supposed to be engaged to Edward's daughter Elizabeth of York at the time, but that never happened. His uncle and father died in the Battle of Barnet in 1471 after they rose against Edward IV and sided with King Henry VI. had asked. His father's goods were withheld from the young Duke, and even before he reached the age of majority, his title was withdrawn from him because of his lack of means. He died childless in 1483.
In 1478 the title was bestowed thirdly on Prince George , the third-born son of King Edward IV, but expired in March 1479 when he died at the age of two.
In the fourth award, the title was awarded on October 27, 1485 to Jasper Tudor, 1st Earl of Pembroke , the uncle of King Henry VII . He had been made Earl of Pembroke in 1452 . Since he had no sons, the title expired on his death on December 21, 1495.
In the fifth bestowal, the title was newly created on May 11, 1694 for William Russell, 5th Earl of Bedford . During the Glorious Revolution he had the claim to the throne from William III. and Maria II supported. Together with the duke he was awarded the subordinate title of Marquess of Tavistock . On June 13, 1695 he was also appointed Baron Howland , of Streatham in the County of Surrey . As early as 1641 he had inherited the titles of 5th Earl of Bedford (1550), 5th Baron Russell (1539) and 3rd Baron Russell of Thornhaugh (1603) from his father . The eldest son of the respective duke bears the courtesy title Marquess of Tavistock as heir apparent .
List of the Dukes of Bedford
Duke of Bedford, first bestowal (1414)
- John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford (1389-1435)
Duke of Bedford, second bestowal (1470)
- George Neville, 1st Duke of Bedford (1457–1483) (title revoked 1477)
Duke of Bedford, third bestowal (1478)
- George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Bedford (1477–1479)
Duke of Bedford, fourth award (1485)
- Jasper Tudor, 1st Duke of Bedford (1431-1495)
Duke of Bedford, fifth award (1694)
- William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford (1616–1700)
- Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford (1680-1711)
- Wriothesley Russell, 3rd Duke of Bedford (1708–1732)
- John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford (1710–1771)
- Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford (1765-1802)
- John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (1766–1839)
- Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford (1788–1861)
- William Russell, 8th Duke of Bedford (1809–1872)
- Francis Russell, 9th Duke of Bedford (1819-1891)
- George Russell, 10th Duke of Bedford (1852-1893)
- Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford (1858–1940)
- Hastings Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford (1888-1953)
- John Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford (1917-2002)
- Robin Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford (1940-2003)
- Andrew Russell, 15th Duke of Bedford (born 1962)
Title heir ( Heir apparent ) is the son of the current title holder Henry Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (* 2005).
Literature and web links
- Hugh Chisholm : Bedford, Earls and Dukes of . Encyclopædia Britannica . Cambridge University Press , 1911.
- Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page
- Bedford, Duke of (E, 1694) at Cracroft's Peerage