Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Bedford
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| Tenure | 23 March 1893 – 27 August 1940 |
| Other titles |
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| Born | 19 February 1858 London, Middlesex, England |
| Died | 27 August 1940 (aged 82) Woburn, Bedfordshire, England |
| Spouse(s) |
Mary du Caurroy Tribe
(m. 1888) |
| Issue | Hastings Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford |
| Parents |
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Herbrand Arthur Russell, the 11th Duke of Bedford (born February 19, 1858 – died August 27, 1940), was an important English noble and politician. He held many special titles, including Knight of the Garter (KG) and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE).
He was the son of Francis Russell, the 9th Duke of Bedford. His mother was Lady Elizabeth Sackville-West.
Family Life
Herbrand Russell married Mary du Caurroy Tribe in January 1888. Their wedding took place in Barrackpore, which was part of British India at the time. Mary was later honored with the title DBE. Sadly, she passed away in an aviation accident in 1937.
They had one son, Hastings William Sackville Russell. He later became the 12th Duke of Bedford. Herbrand Russell also took care of his older brother's daughter. She lived with the family and visited them often after she was married.
Military Service
Herbrand Russell had a career in the military. He joined the Grenadier Guards. He also became a Colonel in the 3rd Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. This was between 1897 and 1908.
He served in the Egyptian campaign in 1882. He also fought in the First World War. His bravery was noted during his service.
Public Roles and Animal Preservation
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The Duke of Bedford held many important public jobs. He was the Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex from 1898 to 1926. He also served as the Mayor of Holborn in 1900.
He was an Aide-de-Camp to the Viceroy of India in the 1880s. Later, he was a Military Aide-de-Camp to King Edward VII and King George V. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant of Bedfordshire.
He loved animals and worked to protect them. He was the President of the Zoological Society of London for many years. This was from 1899 to 1936.
The Duke played a big part in saving the Père David's deer, also known as milu. These deer were extinct in their home country of China by 1900. He gathered the last few deer from zoos in Europe. He then helped them grow into a large herd at his home, Woburn Abbey.
In 1903, he sent Himalayan tahr to the New Zealand government. Five of these animals survived the trip. They were released near Mount Cook Village. He sent more tahr in 1909. While tahr are rare in their native India and Nepal, they are now common in New Zealand. A statue of a Himalayan tahr was put up in May 2014.
The Duke was also very interested in plants. He studied how different plants affect each other. This is now called allelopathy. He published his findings in scientific papers.
He was also the president of the Cremation Society of Great Britain. This was from 1921 until he passed away. He was cremated at the Bedford Chapel in Golders Green Crematorium. His ashes are buried at St. Michael’s Church, Chenies.
Awards and Recognition
The Duke of Bedford received many honors. He became a Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John (KGStJ). He was also made a Fellow of the Society of Arts (FSA) in 1901.
In 1902, he became a Knight of the Order of the Garter (KG). This is a very high honor in Britain. He was also made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1919. In 1908, he became a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).
He was given an honorary Doctor of Law (LL.D.) degree by Edinburgh University in 1906. In 1931, he was made an honorary Freeman of Holborn.
His grandson, Ian Russell, the 13th Duke of Bedford, wrote about him. He described his grandfather as a man who took his public duties very seriously.
