Georgiana Russell, Duchess of Bedford

Georgiana Russell, Duchess of Bedford (18 July 1781 24 February 1853), formerly Lady Georgiana Gordon, was a British aristocrat, patron of the arts and wife of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford.


The Duchess of Bedford
Stipple engraving, 1806
Born18 July 1781
Gordon Castle, Scotland
Died24 February 1853(1853-02-24) (aged 71)
Spouse
Children
  • Lord Wriothesley Russell
  • Lord Edward Russell
  • Lord Charles Russell
  • Lord Francis John Russell
  • Lady Georgiana Romilly
  • Louisa Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn
  • Lord Francis John Russell
  • Lord Cosmo Russell
  • Lord Alexander Russell
  • Lady Rachel Butler
Parent(s)Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon
Jane Maxwell

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. 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. The duchess advised Georgiana to wear black when meeting Francis's younger brother, who had inherited the title and had been widowed with several children.

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