Ian Russell, 13th Duke Of Bedford

John Ian Robert Russell, the 13th Duke of Bedford, was born on 24 May 1917 and died on 25 October 2002. He held various courtesy titles during his lifetime, including Lord Howland until 1940 and Marquess of Tavistock from 1940 until he succeeded to the dukedom in 1953. As a member of the British peerage, he was involved in both business ventures and writing.

He was the son of Hastings Russell, the 12th Duke of Bedford, and Louisa Russell, Duchess of Bedford. Russell's early relationship with his father and grandfather was reportedly strained due to disagreements over financial allowances deemed appropriate for a future duke. During his youth, he was known simply as Ian and used the courtesy title Lord Howland. Following his father's accession to the dukedom in 1940, he adopted the courtesy title Marquess of Tavistock until inheriting the dukedom in 1953.

Russell's early career included working as a rent collector in Stepney beginning in 1938. The following year, he joined the Coldstream Guards and served in World War II, but he left the military after being invalided. In 1940, he became a reporter for the Daily Express. In 1948, he emigrated to South Africa, where he engaged in farming activities near Paarl, before returning to the United Kingdom upon inheriting his father's estates.

Upon his accession to the dukedom in 1953, Russell faced a substantial inheritance tax bill estimated at $14 million. To address this obligation, he adopted a commercial approach by monetizing parts of the family estate, notably by opening Woburn Abbey to the public and charging admission fees. In 1955, he began charging visitors to Woburn Abbey, a deviation from the traditional practice of handing over estates to the National Trust. Later, in 1970, he expanded the estate's commercial ventures by establishing Woburn Safari Park.

This commercialization of the Woburn estate generated controversy among the peerage, with some peers criticizing the perceived vulgarity of the safari park. Russell responded to such criticism by emphasizing the practical benefits of his approach, stating, "I do not relish the scorn of the peerage, but it is better to be looked down on than overlooked."

In addition to his business activities, Russell authored several books, including "A Silver-Plated Spoon" (1959), "The Duke of Bedford's Book of Snobs" (1965, co-authored with George Mikes), "The Flying Duchess" (1968), a biography of Mary Russell, Duchess of Bedford, and "How to Run a Stately Home" (1971, also with George Mikes).

He was among the early UK owners of the 1958 Edsel Citation sedan automobile, registered as “1 MMC,” which he acquired shortly after Ford launched the model in September 1957. In 1958, Russell hosted the radio program "The Duke Disks" on Radio Luxembourg, featuring the song "Que Será, Será" as his signature tune, which also became a family motto.

Russell appeared in various film and television productions, including "The Iron Maiden" (partially shot at Woburn), "V.I.P.-Schaukel" with Margret Dünser, "Coronation Street," and "The Golden Shot." In 1985, he was inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame.

He married three times. His first wife was Clare Gwendolen Hollway (1883–1945), daughter of Ernest John Bridgeman and Jessica Weir. She was previously married to Major Kenneth Chamney Walpole Hollway and was known for her multiple affairs. She died of an overdose of sodium amytal in front of her husband. Russell had two children with Clare Gwendolen: Henry Robin Ian Russell, his successor as the 14th Duke of Bedford, and Lord Rudolf Russell.

His second marriage was to Lydia Lyle (1917–2006), daughter of the 3rd Baron Churston and Denise Orme. She was previously married to Captain Ian Archibald de Hoghton Lyle and brought stepchildren into the marriage. They married in 1947 and divorced in 1960, having one child, Lord Francis Hastings Russell (born in 1950).

Russell’s third marriage was to Nicole Milinaire (born 1920), a French television producer and former courier for the French Resistance. They married in 1960 and later became tax exiles, eventually settling in Monaco. He died in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 2002.