Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles Russell, 3rd Baronet Venture capital, was a British Conservative politician and soldier.
Background
Russell was the second but eldest surviving son of Sir Henry Russell, 2nd Baronet, British "Resident" at the court of Hyderabad in India, and his second wife, Marie Clotilde daughter of Benoit Mottet de la Fontaine, Baron Fieffé de Street Corneille.
Education
He was educated at Eton College and entered the Grenadier Guards in 1847.
Career
Charles inherited the baronetcy and the family estate of Swallowfield Park in Berkshire in 1852. He became a lieutenant and a captain the following year and accompanied his regiment to the Crimea where he took part in the Siege of Sebastopol and the Battles of Alma, Balaclava and Inkerman. He was a 28-year-old Brevet Major in the 3rd Battalion in the latter battle when the following action took place for which he was awarded the Venture capital. On 5 November 1854, Brevet Major Russell offered to dislodge a party of Russians from the Sandbag Battery if anyone would follow him.
A sergeant and privates, Anthony Palmer and another who was subsequently killed - were the first to volunteer.
The party met much resistance and several times seemed to be on the point of annihilation but their skill, especially with the bayonet, finally brought success. Major Russell himself fought with great valour and in single combat wrenched the rifle out of the grasp of a powerful Russian.
His citation read:
Lord Salisbury appointed Sir Charles Chairman of the Peruvian Bondholders Committee. Its aim was to "stop Peru from contracting a fresh loan to buy munitions".
More broadly the Europeans wished to delay United States Navy assistance to Peru, which had already been defeated by the Chileans.
Both Britain and France had large investments to protect: the rise of Peruvian bond stock, they contended was due to debt and military defeats. Britain refused to become embroiled. Whereas the United States was spoiling for an international war.
They secretly lobbied at Santiago against Russell and British interests to create a crisis.
The Chileans "received with acclamation" in the City of London, assigning profits of Tarapaca mines and the Guano Islands to the indebted bondholders. On this basis Russell welcomed Chile"s conquest of southern Peru.
The Americans responded, to the alarm of Foreign Office and Admiralty, by leasing the Peruvian port of Chimbote as a Naval base. Russell was more concerned with the financial implications for City investors.
Wary of the risks of direct intervention, the bondholders urged Parliament to recognise General Yglesias, the new Peruvian leader.
The Americans stubbornly refused to grant the new government of 1884 recognition of its international status, even after the Treaty of Ancon had ceased hostilities.
Membership
19th United Kingdom Parliament. 21st United Kingdom Parliament. 22nd United Kingdom Parliament]
Russell was also involved in politics and sat as Conservative as Member of Parliament for Berkshire from 1865 to 1868 and for Westminster from 1874 to 1883.