thumb|Quartered arms of Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford, KG, PC
Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford (13 May 1788 – 14 May 1861), styled Marquess of Tavistock from 1802 to 1839, was a British peer and Whig politician.
Background and education
He was the son of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford, and his first wife, the Hon. Georgiana Byng, second daughter of George Byng, 4th Viscount Torrington. Russell was educated at Westminster School and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge in 1808 as a Master of Arts. He succeeded his father as duke in 1839.
thumb|200px|left|Statue of Francis, 7th Duke of Bedford by [[Edward Bowring Stephens, before the Magistrate's Court, Tavistock. Erected by public subscription, 1864]]
Career
As Marquess of Tavistock he was appointed joint Lieutenant-Colonel (with Samuel Whitbread) of the 1st Bedfordshire Local Militia in 1808.
He entered the British House of Commons in 1809, sitting as a Member of Parliament for Peterborough for the next three years. Subsequently, Russell represented Bedfordshire until 1832. In the following year, he was summoned to the House of Lords in his father's junior title Baron Howland of Streatham by a writ of acceleration.