The Lord-Lieutenant role and profile

My predecessors as Lord-Lieutenants for Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire Lieutenancy dates and names:

  • 2012-2022 Helen Nellis CVO CStJ
  • 1991-2012 Sir Samuel Whitbread KCVO JP (Deceased 2023)
  • 1978-1991 Lt Col Sir Hanmer Hanbury KCVO; MC
  • 1957-1978 Major Simon Whitbread
  • 1943-1957 Lieutenant Colonel Dealtry C Part
  • 1936-1943 George, 1st Baron Luke
  • 1912-1936 Samuel Howard Whitbread
  • 1905-1912 Beauchamp, 16th Baron St John
  • 1861-1905 Francis, 7th Earl Cowper
  • 1859-1861 Francis, 7th Duke of Bedford
  • 1818-1859 Thomas, 3rd Baron Grantham, afterwards 2nd Earl de Grey and 5th Baron Lucas
  • 1771-1818 John, 2nd Earl of Upper Ossory (died 1818) 
  • 1747-1771 John, 4th Duke of Bedford (died 1771)
  • 1711-1740 Henry, 1st Duke of Kent (died 1740)
  • 1701-1711 Wriothesley, 2nd Duke of Bedford (died 1711)
  • 1700-1701 Lord Edward Russell during minority of Wriothesley, 2nd Duke of Bedford
  • 1689-1700 William, 5th Earl and 1st Duke of Bedford (died 1700)
  • 1685-1688 Thomas, 2nd Earl of Ailesbury 
  • 1667-1685 Robert, 1st Earl of Ailesbury (died 1685)
  • 1646-1651 Henry, 10th Earl of Kent (died 1651)
  • 1643-1646 Oliver, 4th Baron St John of Bletso, 1st Earl Bolingbroke (died 1646)

Civil War - Named by Parliament

  • 1639-1667 Thomas Earl of Cleveland (died 1667) (1660, Robert, 1st of Ailesbury, jointly)
  • 1623-1639 Henry, 8th Earl of Kent (died 1639) (1625 Thomas, Lord Wentworth, created Earl of Cleveland 1626 jointly)
  • 1615-1623 Charles, 7th Earl of Kent (died 1623) 
    (1621-1623) Sir Henry Grey, Lord Ruthin, jointly with his father
  • 1580, 1585-1615 Henry, 6th Earl of Kent (died 1615)
  • 1560-1569 Oliver, 1st Lord St John of Bletso (died before 1582)
  • 1549-1551 Williams, 1st Marquis of Northampton (died 1571)