RUSSELL, Hon. Robert (c.1644-1703), of Covent Garden, Mdx.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715, ed. D. Hayton, E. Cruickshanks, S. Handley, 2002
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1 Apr. 1679 - Mar. 1681
1689 - 26 July 1703

Family and Education

b. c.1644, 5th but 2nd surv. s. of Sir William Russell†, 5th Earl and 1st Duke of Bedford; bro. of Hon. Edward*, Hon. James* and Hon. William Russell†.  educ. travelled abroad (France, Italy, Germany, Low Countries) 1660–6; Padua Univ. 1664.  m. 1690, his cos. Letitia, da. of Hon. Edward Russell of Corney House, Chiswick, wid. of Thomas Cheke of Pirgo, Essex, s.p.  Styled Ld. Robert Russell aft. 11 May 1694.1

Offices Held

Clerk of the pipe 1689–d.

Biography

Re-elected for Tavistock on his family’s interest in 1690, Russell was classed as a Whig by Lord Carmarthen (Sir Thomas Osborne†). Robert Harley* listed him as a Court supporter in April 1691, as did Carmarthen in 1692, and he appears on all known lists of placemen in this period. He was forecast as likely to support the government in the division of 31 Jan. 1696 on the proposed council of trade. He signed the Association in February, and voted the following month for fixing the price of guineas at 22s. On 25 Nov. he voted for the attainder of Sir John Fenwick†. Again listed as a Court supporter in 1698, he voted against the third reading of the disbanding bill on 18 Jan. 1699. Harley listed him as a Whig in December 1701. He died on 26 July 1703 and was buried at Chenies, Buckinghamshire.2

Ref Volumes: 1690-1715

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

  • 1. J. H. Wiffen, Mems. Russell Fam. ii. 161, 222–3; G. Scott Thomson, Life in a Noble Household, 96–110.
  • 2. Northants. RO, Isham mss IC 2202, John to Sir Justinian Isham, 4th Bt.*, 27 July 1703; Luttrell, Brief Relation, v. 322–3.