— Ch. 1 · Aristocratic Origins And Education —
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell.
~7 min read · Ch. 1 of 7
John Russell entered the world on the 18th of August 1792 as the third son of John Russell, who would become the sixth Duke of Bedford. His mother was Georgiana Byng, daughter of George Byng, fourth Viscount Torrington. The Russell family stood among the wealthiest landowning aristocratic dynasties in England since the seventeenth century. As a younger son, he held no expectation of inheriting the family estates or titles. He bore the courtesy title Lord John Russell until his elevation to Earl in 1861. This status allowed him to sit in the House of Commons for decades before joining the House of Lords.
His childhood began with physical vulnerability. Born two months premature, he remained small and sickly throughout his life. Even as an adult, his height never exceeded five feet four inches. Political opponents frequently used his stature as material for caricatures and jokes. In 1801, at age nine, he departed for Westminster School. Shortly after this departure, his mother died. Ill health forced his withdrawal from Westminster School in 1804. Tutors including Edmund Cartwright then educated him privately.
Russell attended Edinburgh University from 1809 to 1812 while lodging with Professor John Playfair. He did not take a degree but traveled widely across Britain and Continental Europe. During continental travels, he visited Spain where his brother served as aide-de-camp to Lord Wellington in the Peninsular War. The following year, in December 1814, Russell had a ninety-minute meeting with Napoleon during the former emperor's exile at Elba. Charles James Fox became his formative political hero and remained an inspiration throughout his life.
Architect Of Parliamentary Reform
In 1828, while still an opposition backbencher, Russell introduced a Sacramental Test bill abolishing prohibitions on Catholics and Protestant dissenters holding civil offices. Sir Robert Peel supported this measure which passed into law. When the Whigs came to power in 1830, Russell joined Earl Grey's government as Paymaster of the Forces. Despite junior ministerial status, he became principal leader fighting for the Reform Act 1832.
A committee of four including Lord Durham, Lord Duncannon, and Sir James Graham tasked Russell with drafting the reform bill. He was chosen to introduce the bill in March 1831 despite not yet being in Cabinet. Over the following year he successfully steered the Reform Act through the Commons. Critics nicknamed him Finality Jack after his pronouncement that the Act represented final measures. Yet later years saw him pushing for further parliamentary reform.
Russell returned to government office as Home Secretary in Melbourne's second cabinet announced the 20th of April 1835. He had lost his home constituency in Devonshire during the subsequent general election but secured a new seat at Stroud by persuading Charles Richard Fox to step down. On the 19th of May he took his place as Home Secretary and head of government in the Commons.
As Home Secretary, Russell recommended conditional