The New Student's Reference Work/Russell, John

Rus′sell, John, Earl, English statesman, was born on Aug. 18, 1792, at London, the third son of the duke of Bedford. He studied at Edinburgh, and entered Parliament in 1813. In 1830 the Liberals came into power, and, though Russell was not a member of the cabinet, he was one of four who framed the first reform-bill. In 1835 he became home-secretary and leader of the house of commons, and introduced most of the important bills passed at this time. In 1839 he became colonial secretary. In 1846 Russell became prime minister. Famine and rebellion in reland and troubles in England beset the ministry, which fell in 1852. In 1859 he became foreign secretary, an office which he held for six years. Among the features of his management of affairs were England’s unfriendly tone toward the United States in the Trent affair, her taking part in the Mexican expedition, the interference with Russia in favor of Poland and the friendly feeling of England for Denmark during the Schleswig-Holstein War. In 1865 Lord John, now Earl Russell, became prime minister for the second time, but kept in power only for a year. He died on May 28, 1878. See Spencer Walpole’s Life of Lord John Russell.