Richard Russel Head of the ‘Inglesinhos’

Richard Russel (1630-1693), a priest ordained in Paris, came to Lisbon to be the Head of the ‘Inglesinhos’ English College in the Bairro Alto. He soon became an influential diplomat.

Richard Russel, otherwise known as “D. Ricardo”, negotiated the marriage of Catherine of Braganza with King Charles II in 1662. He took her portrait to be seen by the King, which is now in the National Portrait Gallery.  He was made Bishop of Cape Verde, but lived in Lisbon at the English College and then Bishop of Portalegre (1671), and later Bishop of Viseu (1682), where he met Queen Catherine of Braganza, a widow, on her way back to Lisbon after the death of King Charles II.