Francis Russell, 9th Duke Of Bedford

Francis Charles Hastings Russell, the 9th Duke of Bedford, was born on 16 October 1819 in Curzon Street, London. He was the son of Major-General Lord George William Russell and Lady William Russell. His paternal grandfather was John Russell, the 6th Duke of Bedford.

In 1838, he received a commission into the Scots Fusilier Guards, a regiment of the British Army, and served until his retirement in 1844. Following his military service, he became involved in politics as a member of the Liberal Party. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire in 1847, a position he held until 1872.

Upon the death of his cousin, William Russell, the 8th Duke of Bedford, in 1872, he succeeded to the dukedom and took his seat in the House of Lords. In the same year, he inherited ownership of considerable landholdings. His estate, primarily located in Bedfordshire, Devon, and Cambridge, encompassed approximately 86,000 acres.

In 1880, he was appointed a Knight of the Garter. That same year, he became the Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire, serving in this role until his death in 1891. He also demonstrated an active interest in agriculture, engaging in experimental farming on his Woburn Abbey estate. He served as President of the Royal Agricultural Society in 1880.

Politically, the Duke initially aligned with the Liberal Party but shifted to becoming a Unionist in 1886. This change was prompted by his disagreement with William Ewart Gladstone's stance on the First Irish Home Rule Bill.

He married Lady Elizabeth Sackville-West on 18 January 1844 at Buckhurst Park. She was the daughter of George Sackville-West, the 5th Earl De La Warr. The couple had four children:

- George William Francis Sackville Russell, who became the 10th Duke of Bedford (1852–1893)

- Lady Ella Monica Sackville Russell (1854–1936), who died unmarried

- Lady Ermyntrude Sackville Russell (1856–1927), who married Edward Malet, 4th Baronet

- Herbrand Arthur Russell, who became the 11th Duke of Bedford (1858–1940)

The Duke died on 14 January 1891 at the age of 71 at his residence, 81 Eaton Square, London. His death resulted from a self-inflicted gunshot wound linked to insanity, while he was suffering from pneumonia. Following his death, he was cremated at Woking Crematorium. His ashes were interred in the Bedford Chapel of St. Michael's Church in Chenies, Buckinghamshire.

His legacy includes extensive landholdings and involvement in military, political, and agricultural affairs.