1486-approx born. Possibly Dorset.
1506-There is a story in Arther Mees Kings of England (Dorset) Charminster that relates to this year .
"The Archduke Philip of Austria and his wife Joanna were caught in a storm. Joanna was proud for she was the daughter of Isabella of Castile, the patron of Columbus (who sold her jewels to enable Columbus to discover America). Joanna put on all her fine clothes, so that when her drowned body was found on the shore she might be buried as a Spanish princess should be; but she was not buried: the ship managed to creep into Weymouth, and the people sent the royal strangers to the finest house they knew, Wolfeton (the great house owned by Sir Thomas Trenchard) ten miles away. Sir Thomas was at home, but he could not speak Spanish, so he sent for his kinsmen John Russell, who was living at the farmhouse ( Kingston Russell House) at Long Bredy Dorset. John had been in Spain and could interpret, the Spaniads were so delighted with his manner that they took him to see the King. The king Henry VII made Russell a gentleman of the privy chamber. Prior to his elevation to court he was the last of a long line of successful wine importers.
When Henry VIII became king he quickly selected Russell for special employment, first in the war and than in diplomacy. In Henry's first campaign in France he served with distinction as a captain and was knighted.
Later he accompanied the king at his showy parade on the Field of the Cloth of Gold. When war with France was resumed and a naval descent was made on Brittany he was wounded by an arrow, and lost the sight of his right eye.
After this he was engaged for three years in confidential diplomacy which took him to France and Italy.
On returning to England married and became owner if Chenies estate Buckinghamshire.
After his marriage Russell went as ambassador to the Pope, and on his return held a number of high offices.
At Henry VIII's death he was one of the executors.
1549-played an important part in the suppression of the Praybook Rebellion for which he was created Earl of Bedford. It seems apparent that Russell probably did not care as to the language or format of the Praybook however he had gained richly from the spoils of the dissolution of the monasteries and it is all to evident he would not let rebel Cornishmen stand in his way.
Though he was regarded as favourable to Protestantism he steered a safe course through nearly three years of Queen Marys reign, went to Spain to arrange her marriage with Philip and was present at the wedding.
1555-Died at the age of 69 at Russell House on the Strand and was buried in gorgeous stateliness at Chenies.
For his service to the crown he received .
The forest and chase of Exmoor.
The Abbey of Tavistock.
Thirty manors that had belonged to Tavistock Abbey.
Thousands of acres of rich fenland in Cambridgeshire when Thorney Abbey passed from the monks to the king.
The Great Abbey of Woburn in Bedfordshire.
London Covent Garden came to Russell on the death of the Duke of Somerset.