Russell,Lucy, countess ofBedford

Lucy Russell (née Harington), countess of Bedford (baptized 1581, d.1627), courtier and patroness of the arts, was the eldest daughter of John Harington, first Baron Harington of Exton, Rutland (1539/40–1613) and his wife Anne, née Kelway (1554–1620). In 1594, at the age of 14, Lucy made a prestigious marriage to 21‐year‐old Edward Russell, third earl of Bedford (1572–1627). In the 1590s the couple led a profligate court life that caused them to incur large debts, and in 1601 the earl made the grave mistake of supporting Essex's rebellion and as a result had to pay an enormous fine. Their luck changed, however, when Queen Elizabeth died and James VI of Scotland was enthroned in 1603: the resourceful countess quickly endeared herself to the new queen by accompanying her from Scotland. She secured a coveted position as one of the ladies of the bedchamber, and her influence on the queen appears to have facilitated her parents' new position as guardians of the Princess Elizabeth. Thus established, the countess of Bedford became arguably the most powerful patroness (save for the queen herself) in the Jacobean court. In her role as facilitator and patron, she was a significant figure in shaping the literary production of Jacobean England.