Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire facts for kids
A Lord Lieutenant is a special person chosen by the King or Queen to represent them in a county. Think of them as the monarch's personal ambassador for that area! They are usually older, respected people who have done a lot for their community.
In Bedfordshire, the Lord Lieutenant's job is to support the Royal Family, help with important local events, and encourage good things happening in the county. Since 1711, the Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire has also been the Custos Rotulorum of Bedfordshire. This fancy Latin name means "Keeper of the Rolls" and used to involve looking after important county records and appointing local judges. Today, it's mostly a traditional title.
This list shows the people who have held this important role in Bedfordshire over many years.
Who Are the Lord Lieutenants of Bedfordshire?
These are the people who have served as the King's or Queen's representative in Bedfordshire:
- William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton 1549–1551
- Oliver St John, 1st Baron St John of Bletso 1560–1569
- Henry Grey, 6th Earl of Kent 12 September 1586– 31 January 1615
- Charles Grey, 7th Earl of Kent 25 February 1615– 26 September 1623 (served jointly with others)
- Henry Grey, 8th Earl of Kent 27 July 1621 – 31 October 1627 (served jointly with others)
- Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Cleveland 9 May 1625 – 25 March 1667 (served jointly with others)
- Henry Grey, 8th Earl of Kent 29 January 1629 – 29 November 1639
- Oliver St John, 1st Earl of Bolingbroke 1639–1646 (This was during a time when Parliament had more power)
- Robert Bruce, Lord Bruce of Whorlton 1646 (Chosen by the House of Lords)
- Henry Grey, 10th Earl of Kent 1646 (Chosen by the House of Commons)
- Interregnum (This means there was no King or Queen, so the role was paused)
- Robert Bruce, 1st Earl of Ailesbury 26 July 1660 – 20 October 1685
- Thomas Bruce, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury 26 November 1685 – 10 May 1689
- William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford 10 May 1689 – 7 September 1700
- Lord Edward Russell 22 November 1700 – 27 November 1701
- Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford 27 November 1701 – 26 May 1711
- Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Kent 14 September 1711 – 5 June 1740
- vacant (This means the position was empty for a while)
- John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford 21 May 1745 – 5 January 1771
- John FitzPatrick, 2nd Earl of Upper Ossory 6 February 1771 – 13 February 1818
- Thomas de Grey, 2nd Earl de Grey 17 March 1818 – 14 November 1859
- Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford 7 December 1859 – 14 May 1861
- Francis Cowper, 7th Earl Cowper 7 June 1861 – 18 July 1905
- Beauchamp Mowbray St John, 17th Baron St John of Bletso 30 October 1905 – 10 May 1912
- Samuel Howard Whitbread 16 July 1912 – 8 January 1936
- George Lawson Johnston, 1st Baron Luke 8 January 1936 – 23 February 1943
- Sir Dealtry Charles Part 15 May 1943 – 7 June 1957
- Simon Whitbread 7 June 1957 – 26 April 1978
- Hanmer Cecil Hanbury 26 April 1978 – 5 January 1991
- Sir Samuel Whitbread 28 February 1991 – 22 February 2012
- Helen Nellis 22 February 2012 – 2022
- Susan Lousada 7 September 2022 - present
