Lord Alexander Russell

General Lord Alexander George Russell was born on 16 September 1821 at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire. He was a member of the British aristocracy, being the seventh son of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford, and his second wife, Lady Georgina (or Georgiana) Gordon, daughter of Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon. There are claims suggesting that his biological father may have been Sir Edwin Landseer, a Victorian painter, due to an alleged lengthy affair with the Duchess of Bedford, though these claims lack definitive proof.

His family included several notable figures. He was the half-brother of Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford, Lord George Russell, and Prime Minister John Russell, 1st Earl Russell. His full siblings included Lord Edward Russell and Lord Charles Russell. He also had three sisters, among whom was Louisa Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn.

Russell entered the British Army on 11 July 1839, purchasing a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade. Over his military career, he attained the rank of Colonel within the Rifle Brigade. His service included participation in the Crimean War, notably during the Siege of Sevastapol.

In subsequent years, Russell held several command positions. In April 1877, he was appointed General Officer Commanding the South-Eastern District. Later, in May 1883, he became the Commander of the British Troops in Canada. Throughout his career, he received several honors; he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) and was later promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB).

Due to his aristocratic titles, he was known as Lord Alexander Russell and was not styled as Sir Alexander Russell, despite his knighthood, because he already held the higher courtesy title of Lord due to his father's rank—initially Marquess and later Duke of Bedford.

On 3 July 1844, Russell married Anne Emily Worsley Holmes, daughter of Sir Leonard Worsley Holmes, 9th Baronet. The couple had two children: Alexander Gordon Russell (born 11 July 1854, died 4 June 1917), who became a captain in the British Army; and Leonard George Russell (born 6 June 1858, died 7 April 1946), who became a major in the British Army.

Lady Alexander Russell died in October 1906. Lord Alexander Russell died on 10 January 1907 at the age of 85 at Woodeaton, Oxfordshire. He is interred alongside his wife in the churchyard of St Michael's, Chenies.