Lord Alexander George Russell ^16,52,163

  General Notes:

From The Times, January 12, 1907

The death took place at Woodeaton, Oxford, on Thursday, of General
Lord Alexander George Russell, GCB, Colonel-Commandant of the 1st
Battalion Rifle Brigade. Lord Alexander Russell was the youngest of
the ten sons of the Duke of Bedford, and a brother, therefore, of the
seventh duke; of Major-General Lord George William Russell, sometime
Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary at Berlin, and ADC to
the late Queen Victoria; of Lord John Russell, KG, GCMG, PC who was
subsequently created Earl Russell of Kingston Russell; of the Reverend
Lord Wriothesley Russell, Canon of Windsor; of Lord Francis John
Russell and Lord Henry Russell; who both served with distinction in
the Royal Navy; and of Lady Louisa Jane Russell, the first Duchess of
Abercorn.
Born December 16, 1821, Lord Alexander Russell entered the Army as
second-lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade, by purchase, July 11, 1839.
Joining his regiment in the Mediterranean, he had not long to wait
for, what in those days every young soldier who could command any
influence endeavoured to obtain, an Aide-de-Campship, as a stepping
stone to other things. From December, 1840, to May, 1841, he acted in
this capacity on the staff of the Governor of Gibraltar. He then
reverted to regimental duty, and on April 15, 1842, obtained his
lieutenancy, without purchase. He now spent several years as a
regimental officer in the Colonies, obtaining his company, by
purchase, August 7, 1846. In February, 1847, he again became
Aide-de-Camp, this time in Canada, where he took up duty on the staff
of the Governor-General. He vacated that position, however, to
proceed to the Cape of Good Hope, to which colony the 1st. Batt. Rifle
Brigade had been summoned from the Ionian Islands to assist in the
suppression of the Kaffirs, who had been giving trouble for some time.
Lord Alexander Russell joined the battalion in South Africa and
remained with it until June 3, 1852, when he was appointed a
deputy-assistant quarter-master-general. In that position he was
present at the action of Berea. This secured for him mention in the
general orders, and later a brevet majority and war medal. The war in
the Crimea found both the battalions of the Rifle Brigade early in the
field. Lord Alexander was promoted to a substantive majority in the
brigade, December 20, 1854, and in that rank joined the allied army on
July 11, 1855. He was present with his battalion in all the
subsequent operations, including the siege and fall of Sevastopol.
From October 25, 1855, to the cessation of hostilities, he commanded
the 1st Batt. Rifle Brigade, coming frequently under notice for his
fine qualities as a commanding officer. His rewards for the Crimea
were the medal with clasp, the Legion of Honour, the fifth Class of
the Medjidieh, the Turkish and Sardinian medals, and a brevel
lieutenant-colonelcy. He succeeded to the substantive command of the
1st Batt. Rifle Brigade, by purchase, December 15, 1858, and obtained
the brevet rank of Colonel, March 10, 1861. He was now quartered with
his command in England.
In December, 1861, the Trent affair induced the Government of despatch
large reinforcements to Canada. The 1st Batt. Rifle Brigade was on of
those selected for the service, and Lord Alexander Russell embarked at
their head. He did duty at various places in the Dominion until 1870,
when he brought his battalion back to Woolwich, leaving it at the
station and retiring on half-pay in February, 1871. For two years
after this he remained without military employment, but on January 1,
1873, he was appointed colonel on the staff to command the troops at
Shorncliffe. Promoted to major-general's rank on March 28, 1874, with
antedate to March 6, 1868, he had, by the rules of the Service, to
vacate on September 28, 1874, his command at Kentish camp. Two and a
half years of inactivity followed. On April 1, 1877, he assumed
command of the South-Eastern District. On March 20, 1878, he became a
lieutenant-general. Leaving Dover March 31, 1880, he had another
spell of nonemployment until 1883, when he, greatly to his delight,
was enabled to renew his official connexion with Canada by going to
Halifax to take up the duties of general officer commanding troops in
British North America. There he remained for his full five years,
leaving Nova Scotia to the regret of an appreciative community, to
whom he had endeared himself by his proverbial courtesy, and the
earnest desire he evinced on all occasions to serve the best interests
of all classes in the Dominion. He returned to England, having run
his course, and could look for no further employment. He became a
general April 7, 1886, was appointed colonel of the 8th King's
Liverpool Regiment, February 28, 1880, was placed on the retired list
December 16, 1888, and became a colonel-commandant of the Rifle
Brigade May 1, 1891. He was created a CB June 2, 1877, KCB June 26,
1903, and GCB in 1905.
Lord Alexander Russell married in July, 1844, Anne Emily Worsley, the
youngest daughter of Sir Leonard Worsley Holmes, Bart. who died in
October last year. He leaves two sons, Alexander Gordon, born in
1854, late a captain, and Leornard George, born in 1858, late a major,
in the Rifle Brigade.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census UK 1851: 30 March 1851, 24 Marine Parade, Dover, Kent.

2. Census UK 1881: 1881, Ewhurst House, Ewhurst, Hampshire.

3. Census UK 1901: 1901, Ewhurst Park, Ewhurst, Hampshire.

4. Resided: 10 January 1907, Woodeaton, Islip, Oxfordshire. ¹³

5. He had an estate probated on 19 February 1907 in London. ¹³

Alexander married Anne Emily Holmes, daughter of Leonard Thomas Worsley Holmes, 9th Baronet and Anne Redston Delgarno, on 3 July 1844 in St. George's Hanover Square, London. (Anne Emily Holmes was born on 3 February 1821 in Calbourne, Isle of Wight and died on 16 October 1906 in 23 Marine Parade, Dover, Kent ¹³.)