Family and Education

2nd s. of (Sir) Francis Russell^†, 2nd Earl of Bedford, by his 1st w., and bro. of Sir Francis and William. m. 23 Dec. 1574, Elizabeth (d.1609), da. of Sir Anthony Cooke of Gidea Hall, Romford, Essex, wid. of Sir Thomas Hoby, 2da. summ. to Lords in his fa.’s barony as Lord Russell Jan. 1581.

Offices Held

Biography

Russell married a sister-in-law of Lord Burghley, and the Queen and the Earl of Leicester were godparents to the daughter born in 1575. Both Russell’s seats in Parliament were obtained through the influence of his father. On the second occasion some doubt arose as to whether he could continue in his seat after the death of his elder brother entitled him to a courtesy title, and his membership of the Commons was confirmed 9 Feb. 1576. He was appointed to committees concerned with ports (13 Feb.), wines (21 Feb.), church discipline (29 Feb.) and the petition urging the Queen to marry (12 Mar.). Later that year he travelled in Germany and Italy. He was raised to the peerage before the next and last session of the Parliament.

Russell died v.p. at Highgate in July 1584. Administration was granted to his widow on 9 Oct. 1584: a further grant was made, 22 Oct. 1618, to their daughter Anne, Lady Herbert.

CP; J. H. Wiffen, House of Russell, i. 501; Genealogist, n.s. iii. 25; Roberts thesis; CJ, i. 104, 105, 107, 109, 114; PCC admon. act bk. 1584, f. 118; 1618, f. 201v.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: P. W. Hasler

Notes

• 1. Did not serve for the full duration of the Parliament.