John Russell, 3rd Baron Ampthill
Encyclopedia
Captain John Hugo Russell, 3rd Baron Ampthill CBE
(4 October 1896–3 June 1973) was a British peer
who served in the Royal Navy
in both the First and Second World Wars.
He was the son of Oliver Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill. He succeeded to the title of Baron Ampthill
, of Ampthill in the County of Bedford on 7 July 1935.
His first marriage to Christabel Hart was notorious for its divorce proceedings
and the question of the legitimacy of her firstborn as the heir, where she claimed that the marriage had never been consummated and she was still a virgin despite her numerous affairs. The House of Lords agreed with her appeal to legitimize her son, refusing to allow blood tests.
Children from marriage to Christabel Hulme Hart:
Children from marriage to Adeline Mary Constance Hone:
Upon the third baron's death, his legitimate son from his third marriage disputed the succession, but to no avail.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(4 October 1896–3 June 1973) was a British peer
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
who served in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in both the First and Second World Wars.
He was the son of Oliver Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill. He succeeded to the title of Baron Ampthill
Baron Ampthill
Baron Ampthill, of Ampthill in the County of Bedford, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 11 March 1881 for the diplomat Lord Odo Russell. He was the third son of Major-General Lord George Russell, second son of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford...
, of Ampthill in the County of Bedford on 7 July 1935.
Personal life
Russell was married three times; firstly to Christabel Hulme Hart on 18 October 1918 (died February 1976); secondly to Sibell Faithfull Lumley on 22 February 1937, following a divorce from his first wife; and thirdly to Adeline Mary Constance Hone on 24 July 1948.His first marriage to Christabel Hart was notorious for its divorce proceedings
Russell case
The Russell case, also called the Ampthill baby case, was a series of proceedings related to the conception of Geoffrey Russell. It covered two divorce cases and the claim to the British peerage title Baron Ampthill, and the possibility of a virgin birth....
and the question of the legitimacy of her firstborn as the heir, where she claimed that the marriage had never been consummated and she was still a virgin despite her numerous affairs. The House of Lords agreed with her appeal to legitimize her son, refusing to allow blood tests.
Children from marriage to Christabel Hulme Hart:
- The Hon. Geoffrey Denis Erskine RussellGeoffrey Russell, 4th Baron AmpthillGeoffrey Denis Erskine Russell, 4th Baron Ampthill, CBE, PC was a British hereditary peer and businessman, whose paternity and succession to the peerage were famously disputed in the "Ampthill Baby Case"....
(15 October 1921–23 April 2011), later 4th Baron Ampthill
Children from marriage to Adeline Mary Constance Hone:
- The Hon. John Hugo Trenchard Russell (13 October 1950–)
- The Hon. Georgiana Adeline Villiers Russell (3 January 1952–)
Upon the third baron's death, his legitimate son from his third marriage disputed the succession, but to no avail.