John Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford
Encyclopedia
John Ian Robert Russell, 13th Duke of Bedford (24 May 1917 – 25 October 2002) was a British peer and writer
, the son of Hastings Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford
. He was named to the International Best Dressed List
Hall of Fame in 1985.
's beloved parrots.
The 13th Duke was known in his youth as Ian, with the courtesy title
Lord Howland. In 1940 his father succeeded to the dukedom and Lord Howland acquired the courtesy title Marquess of Tavistock.
On 6 April 1939 he married Clare Gwendolen (née Bridgman) Hollway ( 1903–1945 ). She died of a drug overdose in 1945. They had two children:
On 13 February 1947, Lord Tavistock married his second wife, Lydia Lyle (born 17 October 1917 - died 25 July 2006), daughter of John Yarde-Buller, 3rd Baron Churston
and the former Denise Orme
, and widow of Capt. Ian Archibald de Hoghton Lyle (1909–1942), heir to a baronetcy
; she had two children by her first marriage. They were divorced in 1960. They had one child:
The Duke of Bedford married, thirdly, Nicole (Schneider) Milinaire
(b. 29 June 1920) on 4 September 1960. The Duke had no children by this union.
. He then joined the Coldstream Guards
in 1939 and fought in the Second World War between 1939 and 1940, but quit the army after being invalided.
He then turned to journalism
and was a reporter for the Daily Express
in 1940. He wrote:
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, the son of Hastings Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford
Hastings Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford
Hastings William Sackville Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford MA , nicknamed Spinach Tavistock, was the son of Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford....
. He was named to the International Best Dressed List
International Best Dressed List
The International Best Dressed List was founded by fashionista Eleanor Lambert in 1940 as an attempt to boost the reputation of American fashion at the time.People who have been on the list include from A to Z:-The International Hall of Fame: Women:...
Hall of Fame in 1985.
Biography
The Duke endured an extremely strange upbringing. He was often reduced to eating the chocolates put out for his fatherHastings Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford
Hastings William Sackville Russell, 12th Duke of Bedford MA , nicknamed Spinach Tavistock, was the son of Herbrand Russell, 11th Duke of Bedford....
's beloved parrots.
The 13th Duke was known in his youth as Ian, with the courtesy title
Courtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
Lord Howland. In 1940 his father succeeded to the dukedom and Lord Howland acquired the courtesy title Marquess of Tavistock.
On 6 April 1939 he married Clare Gwendolen (née Bridgman) Hollway ( 1903–1945 ). She died of a drug overdose in 1945. They had two children:
- Henry Robin Ian Russell, 14th Duke of BedfordRobin Russell, 14th Duke of BedfordHenry Robin Ian Russell, 14th Duke of Bedford, DL was a British peer. He became better known to the public than most of his ancestors by appearing in three series of the reality television programme Country House, made by Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC Two, which in turn inspired Monarch of the...
(1940–2003) - Lord Rudolf Russell (b. 7 March 1944)
On 13 February 1947, Lord Tavistock married his second wife, Lydia Lyle (born 17 October 1917 - died 25 July 2006), daughter of John Yarde-Buller, 3rd Baron Churston
John Yarde-Buller, 3rd Baron Churston
John Reginald Lopes Yarde-Buller, 3rd Baron Churston, MVO, OBE was a British peer and soldier.Yarde-Buller was the only son of the 2nd Baron Churston and his wife, Barbara, the only child of Sir Hastings Yelverton and the 20th Baroness Grey de Ruthyn...
and the former Denise Orme
Denise Orme
Jessie Smither , best known by her stage name Denise Orme, was an English music hall singer, actress and musician who appeared regularly at the Alhambra and Gaiety Theatres in London in the early years of the 20th century.-Early life:The only daughter of Alfred John Smither and Jessicah...
, and widow of Capt. Ian Archibald de Hoghton Lyle (1909–1942), heir to a baronetcy
Lyle Baronets
There have been three Baronetcies created for members of the Lyle family, all in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. One creation is extant as of 2010....
; she had two children by her first marriage. They were divorced in 1960. They had one child:
- Lord Francis Hastings Russell (b. 27 February 1950)
The Duke of Bedford married, thirdly, Nicole (Schneider) Milinaire
Nicole Milinaire
Nicole Milinaire-Russell, Duchess of Bedford was a French television producer in the 1950s. She was the associate producer of Sheldon Reynolds television series Sherlock Holmes and of the 1951-1954 series, Foreign Intrigue. She produced the 1957 CBS series Dick and the Duchess, starring Patrick...
(b. 29 June 1920) on 4 September 1960. The Duke had no children by this union.
Career
Russell started his career as a rent collector in 1938, in StepneyStepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
. He then joined the Coldstream Guards
Coldstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
in 1939 and fought in the Second World War between 1939 and 1940, but quit the army after being invalided.
He then turned to journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
and was a reporter for the Daily Express
Daily Express
The Daily Express switched from broadsheet to tabloid in 1977 and was bought by the construction company Trafalgar House in the same year. Its publishing company, Beaverbrook Newspapers, was renamed Express Newspapers...
in 1940. He wrote:
- A Silver-Plated Spoon (published in 1959)
- The Duke of Bedford's Book of Snobs (published in 1965)
- The Flying Duchess (published in 1968)
- How to Run a Stately Home (published in 1971)