Georgiana Russell, Duchess of Bedford: Difference between revisions
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'''Georgiana (or Georgina) Russell, Duchess of Bedford''' (18 July 1781 – 24 February 1853),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?bioId=74535|title=Georgiana, Duchess of Bedford (Biographical details)|website=British Museum|access-date=10 June 2019}}</ref> formerly Lady Georgiana Gordon, was a British aristocrat and patron of the arts. |
'''Georgiana (or Georgina) Russell, Duchess of Bedford''' (18 July 1781 – 24 February 1853),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?bioId=74535|title=Georgiana, Duchess of Bedford (Biographical details)|website=British Museum|access-date=10 June 2019}}</ref> formerly Lady Georgiana Gordon, was a British aristocrat and patron of the arts. |
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Georgiana was born at [[Gordon Castle]] in Scotland, a younger daughter of [[Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon]], and his first wife [[Jane Gordon, Duchess of Gordon|Jane]]. |
Georgiana was born at [[Gordon Castle]] in Scotland, a younger daughter of [[Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon]], and his first wife [[Jane Gordon, Duchess of Gordon|Jane]]. In 1802, after the [[Treaty of Amiens]], the Duchess of Gordon took Georgiana to Paris to pursue the option of a marriage with [[Eugène de Beauharnais]], stepson of Napoleon, who was around her own age, but political sensitivities put an end to the plan.<ref name="Blakiston1973">{{cite book|author=Georgiana Blakiston|title=Lord William Russell and his wife, 1815-1846|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jnJxAAAAIAAJ|year=1973|publisher=Scholarly Resources|isbn=978-0-8420-1681-0|page=21}}</ref> As a second option, the Duchess of Gordon then arranged for her to become engaged to [[Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford]]; he died, aged 36, before they could marry.<ref name="Schutte2014">{{cite book|author=K. Schutte|title=Women, Rank, and Marriage in the British Aristocracy, 1485-2000: An Open Elite?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=luOvAwAAQBAJ&pg=PP21|date=15 May 2014|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan UK|isbn=978-1-137-32780-2|pages=21}}</ref> The duchess advised Georgiana to wear black when meeting Francis's younger brother, who had inherited the title and was been widowed with several children. |
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On 23 June 1803, Georgiana married, as his second wife, [[John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford]], already known as a politician under the title Lord John Russell.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1754-1790/member/russell-lord-john-1766-1839|title=RUSSELL, Lord John (1766-1839)|website=History of Parliament Online|access-date=10 June 2019}}</ref> Georgiana's wedding dress was so elaborate that it became known as the "Georgiana Frock"; the couple honeymooned at [[Woburn Abbey]].<ref name="children"/> He was fifteen years her senior, and had previously been married for fifteen years to the Hon. Georgiana Byng, daughter of [[George Byng, 4th Viscount Torrington]], by whom he had three sons. She had died in 1801, prior to his inheriting the dukedom.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Gentleman's Magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1FdIAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA647|year=1839|publisher=W. Pickering|pages=647}}</ref> |
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The Duchess of Gordon succeeded in finding titled husbands for all Georgiana's sisters,<ref name="Schutte2014"/> two of whom, [[Charlotte Lennox, Duchess of Richmond|Charlotte]] and [[Susan Montagu, Duchess of Manchester|Susan]], also became duchesses. Jane Gordon died in 1812 and Georgiana's father married his long-standing mistress, Jean Christie. |
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* Reverend [[Lord Wriothesley Russell]] (11 May 1804 – 6 April 1886), who married Elizabeth Henrietta Russell, his second cousin once removed, and had children<ref>{{cite book|title=A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KCZBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA87|year=1869|publisher=Henry Colburn|pages=87}}</ref> |
* Reverend [[Lord Wriothesley Russell]] (11 May 1804 – 6 April 1886), who married Elizabeth Henrietta Russell, his second cousin once removed, and had children<ref>{{cite book|title=A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KCZBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA87|year=1869|publisher=Henry Colburn|pages=87}}</ref> |
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In 1823 the duchess met the artist [[Edwin Landseer]], who had been commissioned to paint her portrait. He began giving her art lessons.<ref name="Scotsman">{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle-2-15039/painted-lady-of-passion-1-613377|title=Painted lady of passion|date=20 July 2002|website=The Scotsman|access-date=10 June 2019}}</ref> The duke and duchess paid Landseer generously for the portrait.<ref>{{cite book|author=James Hamilton|title=A Strange Business: Making Art and Money in Nineteenth-Century Britain|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CqeWAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT91|date=7 August 2014|publisher=Atlantic Books|isbn=978-1-78239-431-0|pages=91}}</ref> Soon she embarked on an affair with Landseer, of which the duke seems to have been aware. Georgiana began renting Doune House in Scotland as a retreat.<ref name="Scotsman"/> |
In 1823 the duchess met the artist [[Edwin Landseer]], who had been commissioned to paint her portrait. He began giving her art lessons.<ref name="Scotsman">{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle-2-15039/painted-lady-of-passion-1-613377|title=Painted lady of passion|date=20 July 2002|website=The Scotsman|access-date=10 June 2019}}</ref> The duke and duchess paid Landseer generously for the portrait.<ref>{{cite book|author=James Hamilton|title=A Strange Business: Making Art and Money in Nineteenth-Century Britain|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CqeWAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT91|date=7 August 2014|publisher=Atlantic Books|isbn=978-1-78239-431-0|pages=91}}</ref> Soon she embarked on an affair with Landseer, of which the duke seems to have been aware. Georgiana began renting Doune House in Scotland as a retreat.<ref name="Scotsman"/> |
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Following the duke's death in 1839, the duchess moved to [[Endsleigh Cottage|Endsleigh House]] in Devon, Woburn now being the property of [[Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford|her stepson Francis]], the new duke. Endsleigh had been built by the duke, during their marriage, as a private family residence, with gardens designed by [[Humphry Repton]].<ref name="death"/> |
Following the duke's death in 1839, the duchess moved to [[Endsleigh Cottage|Endsleigh House]] in Devon, Woburn now being the property of [[Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford|her stepson Francis]], the new duke. Endsleigh had been built by the duke, during their marriage, as a private family residence, with gardens designed by [[Humphry Repton]].<ref name="death"/> She died in [[Nice, France]], aged 71. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 12:09, 11 June 2019
Georgiana (or Georgina) Russell, Duchess of Bedford (18 July 1781 – 24 February 1853),[1] formerly Lady Georgiana Gordon, was a British aristocrat and patron of the arts.
Georgiana was born at Gordon Castle in Scotland, a younger daughter of Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon, and his first wife Jane. In 1802, after the Treaty of Amiens, the Duchess of Gordon took Georgiana to Paris to pursue the option of a marriage with Eugène de Beauharnais, stepson of Napoleon, who was around her own age, but political sensitivities put an end to the plan.[2] As a second option, the Duchess of Gordon then arranged for her to become engaged to Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford; he died, aged 36, before they could marry.[3] The duchess advised Georgiana to wear black when meeting Francis's younger brother, who had inherited the title and was been widowed with several children.
On 23 June 1803, Georgiana married, as his second wife, John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford, already known as a politician under the title Lord John Russell.[4] Georgiana's wedding dress was so elaborate that it became known as the "Georgiana Frock"; the couple honeymooned at Woburn Abbey.[5] He was fifteen years her senior, and had previously been married for fifteen years to the Hon. Georgiana Byng, daughter of George Byng, 4th Viscount Torrington, by whom he had three sons. She had died in 1801, prior to his inheriting the dukedom.[6]
The Duchess of Gordon succeeded in finding titled husbands for all Georgiana's sisters,[3] two of whom, Charlotte and Susan, also became duchesses. Jane Gordon died in 1812 and Georgiana's father married his long-standing mistress, Jean Christie.
The Duke of Bedford and his second wife had seven sons and three daughters, including:
- Reverend Lord Wriothesley Russell (11 May 1804 – 6 April 1886), who married Elizabeth Henrietta Russell, his second cousin once removed, and had children[7]
- Admiral Lord Edward Russell (24 April 1805 – 21 May 1887), who married Mary Ann Taylor and died childless
- Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Charles James Fox Russell (10 February 1807 – 29 June 1894), who married Isabella Davies and had children
- Francis John Russell (born 1805), who joined the Navy.[5]
- Lady Georgiana Elizabeth Russell (1810 – 22 March 1867), who married Charles Romilly and had children
- Lady Louisa Jane Russell (8 July 1812 – 31 March 1905), who married James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, and had children
- Francis John Russell (born 1816), who joined the Navy.[5]
- Lord Cosmo Russell (1817 – 1875), who married Anne Norbury[8]
- General Lord Alexander Russell (16 September 1821 – 10 January 1907), who married Anne Holmes and had children
- Lady Rachel Evelyn Russell (1826 – 21 February 1898), who married Lord James Butler (son of James Butler, 1st Marquess of Ormonde) and had children
In 1806 the duchess accompanied her husband to Ireland, where he served for a year as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. She also assisted the duke in implementing reforms on his estate, and it was said that she "had a strong natural sense of fairness and candour" and [9]
In 1823 the duchess met the artist Edwin Landseer, who had been commissioned to paint her portrait. He began giving her art lessons.[10] The duke and duchess paid Landseer generously for the portrait.[11] Soon she embarked on an affair with Landseer, of which the duke seems to have been aware. Georgiana began renting Doune House in Scotland as a retreat.[10]
Following the duke's death in 1839, the duchess moved to Endsleigh House in Devon, Woburn now being the property of her stepson Francis, the new duke. Endsleigh had been built by the duke, during their marriage, as a private family residence, with gardens designed by Humphry Repton.[9] She died in Nice, France, aged 71.
References
- ^ "Georgiana, Duchess of Bedford (Biographical details)". British Museum. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ^ Georgiana Blakiston (1973). Lord William Russell and his wife, 1815-1846. Scholarly Resources. p. 21. ISBN 978-0-8420-1681-0.
- ^ a b K. Schutte (15 May 2014). Women, Rank, and Marriage in the British Aristocracy, 1485-2000: An Open Elite?. Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-137-32780-2.
- ^ "RUSSELL, Lord John (1766-1839)". History of Parliament Online. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ^ a b c A Sketch of the Life and Character of the Late John Duke of Bedford. W. Croft; Longman, Orme, and Company, London; and all booksellers. 1839. p. 12.
- ^ The Gentleman's Magazine. W. Pickering. 1839. p. 647.
- ^ A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire. Henry Colburn. 1869. p. 87.
- ^ The Illustrated Queen Almanac and Lady's Calendar. Published at the Queen Office. 1877. p. 4.
- ^ a b A Sketch of the Life and Character of the Late John Duke of Bedford. W. Croft; Longman, Orme, and Company, London; and all booksellers. 1839. pp. 22–23.
- ^ a b "Painted lady of passion". The Scotsman. 20 July 2002. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
- ^ James Hamilton (7 August 2014). A Strange Business: Making Art and Money in Nineteenth-Century Britain. Atlantic Books. p. 91. ISBN 978-1-78239-431-0.