Gertrude Russell, Duchess of Bedford
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The Duchess of Bedford | |
|---|---|
_(by_John_Smart).jpg) Portrait of Gertrude, Duchess of Bedford, née Leveson-Gower (1715–1794) by John Smart | |
| Born | 15 February 1715 |
| Died | 1 June 1794 (aged 79) |
| Spouse | John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford |
| Issue | Francis Russell, Marquess of Tavistock Caroline Spencer, Duchess of Marlborough |
| Father | John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower |
| Mother | Lady Evelyn Pierrepont |
Gertrude Russell, Duchess of Bedford (15 February 1715 – 1 July 1794), formerly the Hon. Gertrude Leveson-Gower, was the second wife of John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford. She was the eldest daughter of John Leveson-Gower, 1st Earl Gower, and his wife, the former Lady Evelyn Pierrepont.[1] She married the Duke of Bedford on 2 April 1737.
The earl's first wife, the former Lady Diana Spencer, had died in 1735, of tuberculosis;[2] Diana's only child by the earl – John Russell, Marquess of Tavistock – had died in infancy. Following her marriage, Gertrude brought with her to the household at Woburn Abbey her former nurse, a Mrs Cradock, whose son Thomas became a clergyman and poet.[3]
The duchess was described by Horace Walpole as being "stingy" and "avaricious".[4] Nevertheless, in 1748 she held a ball that was attended by the King, George II; this was described by Henry Fielding as "a most noble entertainment".[5] It was also said that she "understood thoroughly the value of court smiles", and in 1762 she attended the French court at Versailles in an ambassadorial role.[6]
She was interested in art; her portrait was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds in 1756 and is held in the collection at the family seat of Woburn Abbey.[7] She was also painted by Thomas Hudson. She is believed to have been an amateur artist, though not a skilled one.[4]
