Colonial Despatches

Russell was Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from 1852 to 1853 and 1859-1865. In this time, he corresponded with Governor James Douglas and was involved in the discussion of many colonial matters, including the San Juan Island Dispute.1

Russell was born in 1792 into a very liberal, aristocratic family and educated at the University of Edinburgh. He became a Member of Parliament in 1813 and worked hard at Liberal parliamentary reform. Russell was elected British Prime Minister from 1846 to 1852, and again from 1865-1866. In this time, he established a national board of public health and a maximum 10 hour day for factory workers.2 Russell wrote profusely in his later life, including a biography and several works of history. He died on his family estate in 1878.3

• 1. D. R. Fisher, RUSSELL, Lord John (1792-1878) in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1820-1832, 2009, accessed September 16, 2015.
• 2. David Spring, John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
• 3. Ibid.