Statue of the Duke of Bedford
Statue in Bloomsbury, London
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A statue of Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford, by Sir Richard Westmacott stands at the southern end of Russell Square in Bloomsbury, London. Erected in 1809, it is a Grade II listed building.[1]
| Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford | |
|---|---|
| |
 | |
| Artist | Richard Westmacott |
Completion date | 1809 |
| Subject | Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford |
| Location | |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Official name | Statue of Francis Russell 5TH Duke of Bedford |
| Designated | 24 October 1951 |
| Reference no. | 1246153 |
Background
The Duke was an agriculturist and landowner from the Russell family after whom the square was named. He was a Whig politician, as was his uncle Charles James Fox whose statue in Bloomsbury Square by the same sculptor, erected seven years later, faces the Duke's statue across Bedford Place.[2]
The 5th Duke of Bedford was also known for his work in agriculture; he was a founding member of the Board of Agriculture and first president of the Smithfield Club.[3] He was committed to experimentation with agricultural techniques, and under him his country seat at Woburn Abbey became a centre for agricultural meetings.[4]
