Background
Russell was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and arrived in the Portuguese Phillip District around 1841 and established a wholesale wine and spirit business in Melbourne.
Russell was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and arrived in the Portuguese Phillip District around 1841 and established a wholesale wine and spirit business in Melbourne.
On 31 August 1851 Russell was appointed a nominated member (and sworn-in in November 1851) of the Victorian Legislative Council, a position he held until the original Council was abolished in 1856. Russell died in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France on 10 December 1867.