Background
Russell was born in 1715, the son of lawyer John Russell.
Russell was born in 1715, the son of lawyer John Russell.
He was the half-brother of Patrick Russell He was educated in Edinburgh and, having obtained an Doctor of Medicine, he went to London in about 1734.
Shortly after he sailed to Aleppo in 1740, he was appointed physician to the English factory there. Russell became the chief medical practitioner in Aleppo, having gained the confidence of the local Pasha. In 1754 he returned to England and two years later he published his Natural History of Aleppo, with a diary of the progress of the plague in 1742-1744.
In 1759 he was elected to fill a vacancy at Street Thomas" Hospital in London.
He remained in that role until his death on 25 November 1768.
Royal Society.