Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 5).djvu/379

Rh music. Russell had a heavy baritone voice of small compass, but in declamatory delivery it was highly impressive. On the singer's return to Europe, he appeared in many cities of Great Britain and Ireland to repeat his American success. Finally he retired from the concert-room, and settled in London as an opulent money-lender and bill-broker. All his songs were sold at large prices, and for years returned him a handsome income. They are composed in a manly vein, entirely free from puerile sentimentality, and many of them bid fair to endure for future generations. They include &ldquo;The Ivy Green,&rdquo; &ldquo;The Old Arm-Chair,&rdquo; &ldquo;A Life on the Ocean Wave,&rdquo; &ldquo;Some love to Roam,&rdquo; &ldquo;I'm Afloat,&rdquo; and &ldquo;Woodman, spare that Tree.&rdquo;

RUSSELL, Israel Cook, geologist, b. near Garrattsville, N. Y., 10 Dec., 1852. He was graduated at the University of the city of New York in 1872, after which he spent two years in studying science at the School of mines of Columbia college. In 1874 he accompanied one of the parties sent out by the U. S. government to observe the transit of Venus, and was stationed at Queenstown, New Zealand. On his return in 1875 he was appointed assistant in geology at the School of mines, and in 1878 he became assistant geologist on the U. S. geological and geographical survey west of the 100th meridian. In 1880 he was appointed to a similar office on the U. S. geological survey, which he still (1898) holds. Besides large contributions on geological subjects to various scientific periodicals, he has published scientific memoirs, which have been issued by the government in the annual reports of the survey, or as separate monographs. These include &ldquo;Sketch of the Geological History of Lake Lahontan&rdquo; (1883); &ldquo;A Geological Reconnoissance in Southern Oregon&rdquo; (1884); &ldquo;Existing Glaciers of the United States&rdquo; (1885); &ldquo;Geological History of Lake Lahontan&rdquo; (1885); &ldquo;Geological History of Mono Valley&rdquo; (1888); and &ldquo;Sub-Aërial Decay of Rocks&rdquo; (1888).

RUSSELL, John Henry, naval officer, b. in Frederick city, Md.,4 July, 1827: d. in Washington. 1 April, 1897. lie entered the navy, was attaelied to the "St. Mary's" in the Gulf of Mexico, 1844-'6, and participated in the first operations of the Mexi- can war and the blockade at Vera Cruz prior to the capture of that city. He became a passed midshipman, 10 Aug., 1847, and was graduated at the naval academy in 1848. "He was i attached to the North Pacific exploring expe- dition in 1853- '6, and served in the sloop Vin- eeinies" under an appointment as acting lieutenant, and also as navigator. In this cruise the U. S. envoy to China was indebted to Lieut. Rus- sell for opening communication with the Chinese, who had refused all intercourse. Russell boldly pushed his way alone to the senior mandarin, and delivered despatches by which American and Eng- lish envoys were admitted to audience. He was commissioned master. 14 Sept., 1855, and lieuten- ant, 15 Sept., 1855, and in 18GO-'l, when on ord- nance duty at the Washington navy-yard, he was one of two officers there that remained loyal, not- withstanding that, his ties and affections were with the south. He went to Norfolk to assist in pre- venting vessels at the navy-yard from falling into the hands of the secessionists, and had charge of the last boat that left the yard, 28 April. 1861. He was next attached to the frigate "Colorado," and on 14 Sept., 1801, he commanded a boat expedi- tion to cut out the privateer "Judah" at Pensacola, under the protection of shore batteries and about 9.000 men. Russell boldly approached during the night, and after a severe hand-to-hand contliet. in which 20 of his force of 100 sailors were killed or wounded, himself among the latter, he succeeded in destroying the "Judah" and regained the "Colora- do." Admiral Porter, in his " Naval History," says that " this was without doubt the most gallant cut- ting-out affair that occurred during the war." The navy department complimented Russell. The state of Maryland gave him a vote of thanks, and Presi- dent Lincoln personally expressed his gratitude. Russell was then placed in command of the steamer Kennebec" in Farragut's squadron, was present at the surrender of the forts below New Orleans, and received the garrison of Fort Jackson as pris- oners on his ship. Farragut thanked him for his service in saving lives of officers and men in the flag-ship's boat during a guerilla attack at Baton Rouge. He was commissioned lieutenant-com- mander, 16 July, 1862, was on ordnance duty at Washington in 1864, and commanded the sloop " ( 'vane," of the Pacific squadron, in 1864-'5. After being commissioned commander on 28 Jan., 1867, he took charge of the steamer " Ossipee," of the Pacific squadron, in 1869-'71, and during a gale in the Gulf of California rescued the passengers and crew of the Pacific mail-steamer " Continental " in September, 1869. He became captain, 12 Feb., 1874, commanded the sloop Plymouth " in 1875, and by prompt measures saved the vessels of the North Atlantic squadron from an epidemic of yel- low fever at Key West. In 1870'-'7 he commanded the steamer " Powhatan " on special service. He was made commodore, 30 Oct., 1883, had charge of the Mare island navy-yard in lss:{-'(i. was promoted rear-admiral, 4 March. 1886, and voluntarily went upon the retired list, 27 Aug., of the same year. RUSSELL, Jonathan, diplomatist, b. in Provi- dence, R. I., in 1771 ; d. in Milton. Mass., 19 Feb., 1832. He was graduated at Brown in 1791. and educated for the law, but engaged in business, and subsequently in politics. He was U. S. minister to Norway and Sweden in 1814-'18, and one of the five commissioners that negotiated the treaty of Ghent in the former year. He settled in Mendon, Mass.. on his return to this country, took an active part in politics, and in 1821-'3 was a member of congress, having been elected as a Democrat. He was a versatile and graceful writer, but, with the exception of his diplomatic correspondence while in Paris, London, and Stockholm, and a Fourth-of- July oration that reached its twentieth edition (Providence. 1800). he published nothing.

RUSSELL, Noadiah, clergyman, b.'in Middletown, Conn., in 1659 ; d. there, 3 Dec., 1713. He was graduated at Harvard in 1681, taught at Ipswich, and in October, 1688, was ordained minister of the church in Middletown, where he remained until hi- death. He was one of the twelve founders of Yale, and a trustee of that college. His "Diary" is published in the " New England Historical Register" for January, 1853. His son, William, clergyman, b. in Middletown, Conn.. 20