Alexander Russell (naturalist)
Alexander Russell (c. 1715 – 25 November 1768) was a Scottish physician and naturalist, spending 14 years at the English factory in Aleppo. Early life. Russell was born in Edinburgh in 1715, the son of lawyer John Russell. He was the half-brother of Patrick Russell He was educated at the University of Edinburgh, and after graduating with an MD, went to London in about 1734. Aleppo. Russell sailed to Aleppo in 1740, having been appointed physician to the English factory there. He became the city's chief medical practitioner, through gaining the confidence of the local pasha . In 1754 he returned to England and two years later published his "Natural History of Aleppo", with a diary of the progress of the plague in 1742–1744. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1756. St Thomas's Hospital, London. In 1759 he was elected to fill a vacancy at St Thomas' Hospital in London. He remained in that role until his death on 25 November 1768. Publications. Russell's written works include: