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Gertrude Russell, Duchess of Bedford
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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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 which was attended by the King George II, which 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]