British Army general (1821–1907)
Lord Alexander Russell
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Birth name | Alexander George Russell |
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Born | (1821-09-16)16 September 1821 Woburn, England |
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Died | 10 January 1907(1907-01-10) (aged 85) Woodeaton, England |
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Service/branch | British Army |
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Rank | General |
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Unit | Rifle Brigade |
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Battles/wars | Crimean War |
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Spouse(s) |
Anne Emily Worsley Holmes
( m. 1844; died 1906) |
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General Lord Alexander George Russell GCB (16 September 1821 – 10 January 1907) was a British Army general. He served during the Siege of Sevastapol in the Crimean War.
Background
Russell was born at Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire, 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, although it has been claimed that Russell's father was actually the Victorian painter Sir Edwin Landseer, who conducted a lengthy affair with the Duchess of Bedford.[1] He was the half-brother of Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford, Lord George Russell and Prime Minister John Russell, 1st Earl Russell and the full brother of Lord Edward Russell and Lord Charles Russell. He had three sisters, including Louisa Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn.[2]
Military career
Russell joined the Army on 11 July 1839 when he purchased a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade. Russell was a Colonel in the Rifle Brigade and served during the Siege of Sevastapol in the Crimean War. He became General Officer Commanding South-Eastern District in April 1877[3] and Commander of the British Troops in Canada in May 1883[4] and was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB), having previously been a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). He was not however styled Sir Alexander Russell since he already held the higher title of Lord due to his father being first a Marquess and later a Duke.
Life
Russell married Anne Emily Worsley Holmes, daughter of Sir Leonard Worsley Holmes, 9th Baronet, on 3 July 1844. They had two children:
- Alexander Gordon Russell (11 July 1854 – 4 June 1917); became a captain in the British Army.
- Leonard George Russell (6 June 1858 – 7 April 1946); became a major in the British Army.
Lady Alexander Russell died in October 1906. Russell survived her by only three months and died at Woodeaton, Oxfordshire, in January 1907, aged 85.[2] She is buried with her husband in the churchyard of St Michael's, Chenies.
Ancestry
Ancestors of Lord Alexander Russell |
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| | | | | | | | | 16. Wriothesley Russell, 2nd Duke of Bedford | | | | | | | 8. John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford | | | | | | | | | | 17. Elizabeth Howland | | | | | | | 4. Francis Russell, Marquess of Tavistock | | | | | | | | | | | | 18. John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower | | | | | | | 9. The Hon. Gertrude Leveson-Gower | | | | | | | | | | 19. Lady Evelyn Pierrepont | | | | | | | 2. John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20. Arnold van Keppel, 1st Earl of Albemarle | | | | | | | 10. Willem van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle | | | | | | | | | | 21. Geertruid Johanna Quirina van der Duyn | | | | | | | 5. Lady Elizabeth Keppel | | | | | | | | | | | | 22. Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond | | | | | | | 11. Lady Anne Lennox | | | | | | | | | | 23. Anne Brudenell | | | | | | | 1. Lord Alexander Russell | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 24. Alexander Gordon, 2nd Duke of Gordon | | | | | | | 12. Cosmo Gordon, 3rd Duke of Gordon | | | | | | | | | | 25. Lady Henrietta Mordaunt | | | | | | | 6. Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon | | | | | | | | | | | | 26. William Gordon, 2nd Earl of Aberdeen | | | | | | | 13. Lady Catherine Gordon | | | | | | | | | | 27. Lady Susan Murray | | | | | | | 3. Lady Georgina Gordon | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 28. Sir Alexander Maxwell, 2nd Baronet of Monreith, Wigtownshire | | | | | | | 14. Sir William Maxwell, 3rd Baronet of Monreith, Wigtownshire | | | | | | | | | | 29. Lady Jean Montgomerie | | | | | | | 7. Jane Maxwell | | | | | | | | | | | | 30. William Blair | | | | | | | 15. Magdalen Blair | | | | | | | | | | 31. Catharine Tait | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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References