Lord Edward Russell (1642–1714) facts for kids
Lord Edward Russell (born 1643 – died 30 June 1714) was an important English politician. Before 1694, people knew him as Hon. Edward Russell. He married a woman named Francis Lloyd in 1688. They did not have any children.
Early Life and Family
Edward Russell was the son of William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford. A Duke is a very high-ranking noble. Edward studied privately and also at the University of Padua in Italy.
When his father, the 1st Duke, passed away, Edward was the oldest son still alive. However, the Duke title did not go to him. Instead, it went to his nephew, Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford. This happened because Wriothesley was the son of Edward's older brother, William Russell, Lord Russell. In those days, titles usually passed to the oldest son's children first.
A Career in Politics
Edward Russell was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Tavistock. He served in Parliament from 1679 to 1683. An MP is someone elected to represent people in the government.
He held several important jobs in the government. In 1689, after a big change in government called the Glorious Revolution, he became the Custos Rotulorum of Caernarvonshire. This job meant he was in charge of keeping the county's records.
From 1694 to 1702, Edward Russell was the Treasurer of the Chamber. This role involved managing money for the royal household.
He also briefly served as a Lord Lieutenant for several areas. These included Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Middlesex. A Lord Lieutenant was the King's or Queen's representative in a county. He also became the Custos Rotulorum of Middlesex. He held these positions from 1700 to 1701. When his nephew, Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford, became an adult, he took over these roles.
