Background
Russell was born on 21 December 1795 in Dartmouth, South Devon, the eldest son of John Russell by his wife Nora Jewell.
Russell was born on 21 December 1795 in Dartmouth, South Devon, the eldest son of John Russell by his wife Nora Jewell.
He was educated at Plympton Grammar School, Blundell"s School, Tiverton and, Oxford.
lieutenant was at Exeter College, legend has it, that he spotted a little white terrier with dark tan spots over her eyes, ears and at the tip of her tail, who was owned by a milkman. Russell bought the dog on the spot and this animal, called "Trump", became the foundation of a line of fox hunting terriers that became known as Jack Russell Terriers. They were well-suited by the shortness and strength of their legs for digging out foxes which had "gone to earth" having been hunted over-ground by fox hounds.
He helped to write the breed standard for the Fox Terrier (Smooth) and became a respected judge.
He did not show his own fox terriers on the conformation bench, saying that the difference between his dogs and the conformation dogs could be likened to the difference between wild and cultivated flowers. Russell was appointed vicar of Swimbridge in North Devon, where the local public house was renamed the "Jack Russell Inn" and still stands today.
He was also rector of Black Torrington in Devon. Russell died on 28 April 1883 and was buried in the churchyard of Saint James"s Church, Swimbridge, where he was vicar.
Russell was a founding member of The Kennel Club.
