Benjamin Russell (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Russell was an American
journalist, born in Boston
.
, a newspaper owner with whom he apprenticed in Worcester, Massachusetts.
was received in Worcester, Russell attempted to enlist in the Continental Army
but was refused because he was a minor. Later, in 1780 he was enlisted in the Revolutionary army, taking the place of his employer, Isaiah Thomas, who had received a draft notice. Benjamin's Rev. War Pension Application states, in his own handwriting, that he served as a private. He was never an officer.
While in the army Russell was present at the execution of British spy, Major John André
who had been working with American General Benedict Arnold
to capture the key base at West Point, New York
. Russell was a member of the guard who escorted Andre to his place of execution
which commenced publication on 24 March 1784. This paper he controlled for 40 years and, assisted by Fisher Ames
, Timothy Pickering
, John Lowell
, Stephen Higginson
, and George Cabot
as contributors, made it one of the most influential organs of the Federalist party
.
Russell and William Warden
first published the Massachusetts Centinel beginning in 1784. In 1785 Ben became the sole publisher and changed the name to the Columbian Centinel
. Staff included Samuel Gilbert and Thomas Dean.
" on the occasion of President Monroe's visit to Boston in 1817.
He was one of the aldermen
of Boston, was a representative to the General Court, State Senator for a number of years, was one of the Governor's Council, and in 1820 was a member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist, born in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.
Early life
Benjamin Russell was born on 13 September 1761, son of John Russell, a stonemason. He was educated in the public school in Boston, and as a youth often visited the printing offices of Isaiah ThomasIsaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas , was an American newspaper publisher and author. He performed the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Worcester, Massachusetts and reported the first account of the Battles of Lexington and Concord...
, a newspaper owner with whom he apprenticed in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Military service
When the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
was received in Worcester, Russell attempted to enlist in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
but was refused because he was a minor. Later, in 1780 he was enlisted in the Revolutionary army, taking the place of his employer, Isaiah Thomas, who had received a draft notice. Benjamin's Rev. War Pension Application states, in his own handwriting, that he served as a private. He was never an officer.
While in the army Russell was present at the execution of British spy, Major John André
John André
John André was a British army officer hanged as a spy during the American War of Independence. This was due to an incident in which he attempted to assist Benedict Arnold's attempted surrender of the fort at West Point, New York to the British.-Early life:André was born on May 2, 1750 in London to...
who had been working with American General Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
to capture the key base at West Point, New York
West Point, New York
West Point is a federal military reservation established by President of the United States Thomas Jefferson in 1802. It is a census-designated place located in Town of Highlands in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 7,138 at the 2000 census...
. Russell was a member of the guard who escorted Andre to his place of execution
Early career
After the war he began the publication of a semiweekly journal, the Columbian CentinelColumbian Centinel
The Columbian Centinel was a Boston, Massachusetts, newspaper established by Benjamin Russell. It continued its predecessor, the Massachusetts Centinel and the Republican Journal, which Russell and partner William Warden had first issued on March 24, 1784...
which commenced publication on 24 March 1784. This paper he controlled for 40 years and, assisted by Fisher Ames
Fisher Ames
Fisher Ames was a Representative in the United States Congress from the 1st Congressional District of Massachusetts.-Life and political career:...
, Timothy Pickering
Timothy Pickering
Timothy Pickering was a politician from Massachusetts who served in a variety of roles, most notably as the third United States Secretary of State, serving in that office from 1795 to 1800 under Presidents George Washington and John Adams.-Early years:Pickering was born in Salem, Massachusetts to...
, John Lowell
John Lowell
John A. Lowell was an American lawyer, selectman, jurist, delegate to the Congress of the Confederation and federal judge....
, Stephen Higginson
Stephen Higginson
Stephen Higginson was an American merchant and shipmaster from Boston, Massachusetts. He was a delegate for Massachusetts to the Continental Congress in 1783...
, and George Cabot
George Cabot
George Cabot was an American merchant, seaman, and politician from Boston, Massachusetts. He represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate and as the Presiding Officer of the Hartford Convention.-Early life:...
as contributors, made it one of the most influential organs of the Federalist party
Federalist Party (United States)
The Federalist Party was the first American political party, from the early 1790s to 1816, the era of the First Party System, with remnants lasting into the 1820s. The Federalists controlled the federal government until 1801...
.
Russell and William Warden
William Warden
William Warden was a printer in late 18th-century Boston, Massachusetts. In March 1784, when Warden was 23 years of age, he established the Massachusetts Centinel newspaper, with Benjamin Russell. The printing-office of Warden & Russell was located in March 1784 "at the southeast corner of State...
first published the Massachusetts Centinel beginning in 1784. In 1785 Ben became the sole publisher and changed the name to the Columbian Centinel
Columbian Centinel
The Columbian Centinel was a Boston, Massachusetts, newspaper established by Benjamin Russell. It continued its predecessor, the Massachusetts Centinel and the Republican Journal, which Russell and partner William Warden had first issued on March 24, 1784...
. Staff included Samuel Gilbert and Thomas Dean.
Political office
Russell coined the expression "Era of Good FeelingEra of Good Feelings
The Era of Good Feelings was a period in United States political history in which partisan bitterness abated. It lasted approximately from 1815 to 1825, during the administration of U.S...
" on the occasion of President Monroe's visit to Boston in 1817.
He was one of the aldermen
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of Boston, was a representative to the General Court, State Senator for a number of years, was one of the Governor's Council, and in 1820 was a member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention.
Late career
He resigned as editor of the Centinel in 1828, but until 1830 continued to edit the Boston Gazette, which he had established in 1795. Russell died on 4 January 1845 at age 84.Further reading
- Joseph Tinker Buckingham. Specimens of newspaper literature: with personal memoirs, anecdotes, and reminiscences, Volume 2. Boston: Redding and Co., 1852.
- Who was who in America: historical volume 1607-1896.