Bedford College was founded in London in 1849 as a higher education college for the education of women. It was the first institution of its type for women in the United Kingdom. In 1900, the college became a constituent school of the University of London. It played a leading role in the advancement of women in higher education, and also in public life in general. The college became fully coeducational in the 1960s. In 1985, Bedford College merged with another of the University of London's colleges – Royal Holloway College. The merged institution was named Royal Holloway and Bedford New College (RHBNC). Whilst this is still the official name, for day-to-day use the college is called "Royal Holloway, University of London" (RHUL).

The college was founded by Elizabeth Jesser Reid (née Sturch), a social reformer and anti-slavery activist who had been left a private income by her late husband, Dr. John Reid, which she used to patronise various philanthropic causes. Mrs. Reid and her circle of well-educated friends were firm believers in the need for improving education for women. In 1849, she leased a house at 47 Bedford Square in the Bloomsbury area of London, and opened the Ladies College in Bedford Square. The intention was to provide a liberal and non-sectarian education for women, something no other institution in the United Kingdom provided at the time. Reid placed £1,500 (GBP) with three male trustees, and persuaded a number of her friends to serve on the management committees and act as teaching professors.

Coordinates: 52°08′01″N 0°27′28″W / 52.1337°N 0.4577°W / 52.1337; -0.4577

Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 80,000 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town of Kempston. The Bedford Urban Area which includes Kempston, Elstow and Biddenham forms the 71st largest Urban Area in the UK with a population of 101,928. The wider borough, including a rural area, had a population of 153,000.^{[citation needed]}

The name of the town is thought to derive from the name of a Saxon chief called Beda, and a ford crossing the River Great Ouse. Bedford was a market town for the surrounding agricultural region from the early Middle Ages^{[citation needed]} The Anglo-Saxon King Offa of Mercia was buried in the town in 796. In 886 it became a boundary town separating Wessex and Danelaw. It was the seat of the Barony of Bedford. In 919 Edward the Elder built the town's first known fortress, on the south side of the River Ouse and there received the area's submission. This fortress was destroyed by the Danes. William II gave the barony of Bedford to Paine de Beauchamp who built a new, strong castle. The new Bedford Castle was razed in 1224 and today only a mound remains.

Deric Michael Angelettie (born July 31, 1968), otherwise known as D-Dot, Papa Dot and The Madd Rapper, is a rapper, record producer, CEO and entrepreneur. He graduated from Samuel J. Tilden High School in 1986. He then attended Howard University from 1986-1989. He dropped out to pursue a music career. A three-time Grammy Nominee and NARAS Award winner, Angelettie made a significant mark as a hip-hop and R&B record producer and label owner. Angelettie started in 1990 as a rapper in the group "Two Kings In a Cipher". From 1996-1998, he was the "Captain" of Sean "Diddy" Combs' Bad Boy Entertainment's producing team: The Hitmen. As a producer, Angelettie sold millions of records and produced hits for superstars like Notorious B.I.G., Diddy, Ma$e, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Eminem and many more. He produced hits such as The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Hypnotize" & Mase's "Feel So Good" as well as many other tracks for many multi-platinum and Grammy Award winning artists. He created the character The Madd Rapper and released an album, Tell 'Em Why U Madd, in 2000, which featured the up and coming rapper 50 Cent on the song "How To Rob". The Tell 'Em Why U Madd LP also introduced a new, young producer by the name of "Kanye West" who Angelettie also managed and mentored. Angelettie hosted the television show "Hip-Hop Hold 'Em" and is the "Music Consultant" for the "Notorious" movie on Fox/Searchlight Pictures-2009. Angelettie advises and consults major corporations and entertainment companies through his consulting and imaging company, "Connect The Dots Consulting, LLC.". Angelettie is married to advice columnist Lisa Angelettie MSW of GirlShrink.com and is the father of four daughters. The daughters are Alexis, Autumn, Ali and Ava.