Biography of William Russell 1st Baron Russell 1560-1613

Before 1548 [his father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 20) and [his mother] Margaret St John Countess Bedford (age 14) were married. He the son of [his grandfather] John Russell 1st Earl Bedford (age 62) and [his grandmother] Anne Sapcote Countess Bedford (age 68).

Around 1560 William Russell 1st Baron Russell was born to [his father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 33) and [his mother] Margaret St John Countess Bedford (age 27).

On 27th August 1562 [his mother] Margaret St John Countess Bedford (age 29) died at Woburn, Bedfordshire. She was buried at St Michael's Church, Chenies [Map].

In 1564 [his father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 37) was appointed 349th Knight of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 30).

On 11th November 1565 [his brother-in-law] Ambrose Dudley 3rd Earl Warwick (age 35) and [his sister] Anne Russell Countess Warwick (age 17) were married. She by marriage Countess Warwick. She the daughter of [his father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 38) and [his mother] Margaret St John Countess Bedford. He the son of John Dudley 1st Duke Northumberland and Jane Guildford Duchess Northumberland.

On 25th June 1566 [his father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 39) and [his step-mother] Bridget Hussey Countess Bedford (age 40) were married. She by marriage Countess Bedford. He the son of [his grandfather] John Russell 1st Earl Bedford and [his grandmother] Anne Sapcote Countess Bedford.

In January 1570 Henry Clifford 2nd Earl of Cumberland (age 53) died. His son [his future brother-in-law] George (age 11) succeeded 3rd Earl of Cumberland, 13th Baron de Clifford, 13th Lord Skipton. Being underage his wardship went to Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 36) who gave it to [his father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 43) whose daughter George subsequently married.

Around 1575 William Russell 1st Baron Russell (age 15) educated at Magdalen College, Oxford University.

In 1577 [his brother-in-law] George Clifford 3rd Earl of Cumberland (age 18) and [his sister] Margaret Russell Countess Cumberland (age 16) were married. She being the daughter of [his father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 50) who had been given George's wardship by Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 43). She by marriage Countess of Cumberland. She the daughter of Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford and [his mother] Margaret St John Countess Bedford. He the son of Henry Clifford 2nd Earl of Cumberland and Anne Dacre Countess Cumberland (age 56). They were third cousins.

In September 1581 William Russell 1st Baron Russell (age 21) was knighted.

On 7th August 1583 [his brother-in-law] William Bourchier 3rd Earl Bath (age 25) and [his sister] Elizabeth Russell Countess Bath were married at St Mary Major Church, Exeter. She by marriage Countess Bath, Countess Eu. She the daughter of [his father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 56) and [his mother] Margaret St John Countess Bedford. They were half sixth cousins.

In 1584 [his father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 57) was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Devon.

On 13th February 1585 William Russell 1st Baron Russell (age 25) and Elizabeth Long Baroness Russel Thornhaugh were married at Watford, Hertfordshire. He the son of Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 58) and Margaret St John Countess Bedford.

On 28th July 1585 [his father] Francis Russell 2nd Earl Bedford (age 58) died. His grandson Edward (age 12) succeeded 3rd Earl Bedford, 3rd Baron Russell of Cheneys.

In 1593 [his son] Francis Russell 4th Earl Bedford was born to William Russell 1st Baron Russell (age 33) and [his wife] Elizabeth Long Baroness Russel Thornhaugh. He married before August 1616 Catherine Brydges Countess Bedford, daughter of Giles Brydges 3rd Baron Chandos and Anne Clinton, and had issue.

In 1603 William Russell 1st Baron Russell (age 43) was created 1st Baron Russell of Thornhaugh. [his wife] Elizabeth Long Baroness Russel Thornhaugh by marriage Baroness Russell of Thornhaugh.

On 9th February 1604 [his sister] Anne Russell Countess Warwick (age 56) died. She was originally interred at St Marys Church, Watford. The monument subseuently moved to the Bedford Chapel, St Michael's Church, Chenies.

On 24th March 1605 [his sister] Elizabeth Russell Countess Bath died.

On 9th August 1613 William Russell 1st Baron Russell (age 53) died. His son Francis (age 20) succeeded 2nd Baron Russell of Thornhaugh.