# The New International Encyclopædia/Russell, John (statesman)

Edition of 1905. See also John Russell, 1st Earl Russell on Wikipedia; and the disclaimer.
​RUSSELL, Lord John, first Earl Russell (1792-1878). An English statesman, born in Westminster. August 18, 1792. He was the third son of the sixth Duke of Bedford. He was educated at Westminster School and at Edinl)urgh University. In July, 1813, he was returned to Parliament for the borough of Tavistock, and, according to the family traditions, he entered the ranks of the Whigs. Russell's real political life began in 1820 when he was returned to Parliament from Huntingdonshire. He became an ardent advocate of Parliamentary reform. He also interested himself in the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, which he carried in 1828 against the united efforts of Peel, Huskisson, and Palmerston. He cordially supported the Catholic Emancipation Act, which was passed in 1829. In 1830 the question of Parliamentary reform became crucial and caused the resignation of Wellington's Tory Government. Earl Grey followed the Duke as Premier, and took Russell into the Ministry as Paymaster-General of the forces. Lord John at once rose into great prominence through his part in the Reform Bill of 1832, the first reading of which he moved in the Commons. (See Parliament.) He subsequently took part in the agitation against the Corn Laws. On the resignation of Peel, in December, 1845, Russell was summoned to form a Ministry, but was unable to do so, and Peel resumed office and brought about the repeal of the Corn Laws (q.v.). He was soon forced out on the question of Irish coercion. Again Russell was called upon to form a Ministrv, and this time he succeeded (July, 1846).
Russell continued as Premier for nearly six years. The usual Irish discontent had been greatly augmented by the famine, and all Ireland was ripe for rebellion. Russell handled the matter with much skill. Relief measures went hand in hand with coercive measures, and in a few months Ireland was quieter than it had been for years. The most important act in this connection was the Encumbered Estates Act. (See Irish Land Laws.) This administration also saw the end of the Chartist movement. (See Chartism.) In 1851, as a result of the Pope's attempt to reestablish the Catholic hierarchy in England, the Ecclesiastical Titles Assumption Act (q.v.) was passed. In December. 1851, when the Foreign Secretary, Palmerston, without consulting his colleagues, recognized the Government formed by Louis Napoleon after his coup d'etat of December 2d, Russel demanded his resignation. Palmerston soon brought about the downfall of the Government. Russell resigned and Lord Derby came in with the extreme Tories. Derby, however, had no majority, and in turn resigned after a brief term in office. A coalition Ministry of Whigs and Peelites was then formed (December, 1852) under Lord Aberdeen, in which Russell appeared as Secretary for Foreign Affairs. The mismanagement exhibited in the operations of the Crimean War, and the great loss of life incurred, brought about a motion in the House of Commons, for an inquiry into the conduct of the war. Russell was ill-prepared to resist this and resigned. He then supported the motion and Aberdeen resigned. Derby and Russell each attempted to form a Ministry, but without success. Palmerston was then called upon and succeeded. Russell was asked to join, but refused. He was then sent as plenipotentiary to the conference at Vienna, which it was hoped would bring about peace. Meanwhile the Peelites had withdrawn from the Ministry and Russell in March. 1855, very reluctantly entered the Ministry, though he still remained at the conference. On his return the opposition in Parliament raised a great outcry in regard to his proceedings at Vienna, and being unable, by reasons of State, to account in full detail for his course, Russell resigned. In 1859 he again appeared as Foreign Secretary under Palmerston. The Italian War of Liberation and the American Civil War were the most difficult questions he had to meet. To the Italians he gave his most ardent support. His conduct in regard to the American War has been defended and criticised, some claiming that he ably preserved British neutrality, others contending that the cases of the Alabama, Florida, etc., prove the contrary. In 1861 he was created Earl Russell. In 1865, on the death of Palmerston, Russell again became Premier. The new Ministry now brought forward a Parliamentary reform bill. The Liberals, however, did not give hearty support to the bill, and it was defeated. Russell at once resigned and never took office again. His last years were spent chiefly in literary work. He died on May 28, 1878. Consult: Walople, Life of Lord John Russel (London, 1889); Reid, Lord John Russell (ib., 1895); Walpole, History of England (ib., 1878-86).