Frances Russell, née Cromwell

Lady Frances Russell
Born Frances Cromwell
6 December 1638
Ely, Cambridgeshire
Died 27 January 1720
London
Nationality English
Spouse(s) Robert Rich, Sir John Russell
Children 5
Parent(s) Oliver Cromwell
Elizabeth Bourchier

Frances Russell(née Cromwell; 1638 – 1720) was the ninth and youngest daughter of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, and his wife, Elizabeth Cromwell. She was baptized at St. Mary's Church in Ely on 6 December 1638.[1]

Family and Marriage

After growing up in the Cromwell family home, Frances moved to both Whitehall and Hampton Court when her parents became the protector and protectoress of England. Historians have linked her to several suitors, amongst them Charles I,[2] but she did not marry until 11 November 1657 when she wed Robert Rich (1634-1658), grandson of Robert Rich, second earl of Warwick (1587–1658), and only son and heir of Robert Rich, Lord Rich (1611–1659). Despite a difficult courtship and days of celebration the marriage was short-lived: Rich, who had been ill at the time of the marriage, died 16 February 1658 at Whitehall.[2]

Five years later, on 7 May 1663 Frances married Sir John Russell. Russell died in March 1669. Frances raised their five children, before spending the latter part of her life with her sister Mary and her husband Thomas.[3]

Children

Sir John and Lady Frances had three sons and two daughters:

  • Sir William Russell, 4th Baronet (c. 1660–1725)
  • Christian Russell (d. 1669)
  • Elizabeth Russell (1664–1733)
  • Maj.-Gen. Rich Russell (c. 1667–1735)
  • John Russell (1670–1735), President of Bengal

References

  1. ↑ Gaunt, Peter. "Russell [née Cromwell; other married name Rich], Frances, Lady Russell". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 Waylen, James (1897). The House of Cromwell: A Genealogical History of the Family and Descendants of the Protector. 62 Paternoster Row: Elliott Stock. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  3. ↑ Noble, Mark (1784). Memoirs of the protectorate-house of Cromwell: deduced from an early period, and continued down to the present time, Vol II. London: Pearson and Rollason. p. 382. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
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