Sir Henry Russell, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Henry Russell was a British lawyer. He was made a Privy Counsellor in 1816, during the reign of George III
. The Russell baronetcy
of Swallowfield
in Berkshire
, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 10 December 1812 for him. Russell was the Chief Justice of Bengal
.
, on 8 August 1751, he was the third son of Michael Russell (1711–1793) of Dover, by his wife Hannah, daughter of Henry Henshaw. Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke
nominated him in 1763 to the foundation of the Charterhouse School
, and he was educated there and at Queens' College, Cambridge
(B.A. 1772, M.A. 1775).
Having been admitted a member of Lincoln's Inn
, 20 June 1768, he was appointed about 1775 by Lord Bathurst
to a commissionership in bankruptcy; and was called to the bar on 7 July 1783. In 1797 he was appointed a puisne judge in the supreme court of judicature, Bengal, and was knighted. He reached Calcutta on 28 May 1798. In 1807 he was appointed chief justice of the supreme court in place of Sir John Anstruther. On 8 January 1808 he pronounced judgment in a case that attracted much attention at the time. John Grant, a company's cadet, was found guilty of maliciously setting fire to an Indian's hut. In sentencing him to death, the chief justice said: ‘The natives are entitled to have their characters, property, and lives protected; and as long as they enjoy that privilege from us, they give their affection and allegiance in return’. Russell's house at Calcutta stood in what was later called after him, Russell Street. Here, on 2 March 1800, died his wife's niece, Rose Aylmer, whose memory is perpetuated in a poem of that name by Walter Savage Landor
.
By patent dated 10 December 1812 Russell was created a baronet. On 9 November 1813 he resigned the chief justiceship; testimony to his merits was formally recorded in a general letter from the Bengal government to the court of directors of the East India Company
, dated 7 December 1813. Russell left Calcutta two days later, and on his return to England the Company awarded him a pension of £2,000 a year. After his retirement he declined the offer from Charles Whitworth, 1st Earl Whitworth
, his brother-in-law, of a seat in parliament, as member for East Grinstead
, a pocket borough of the Sackville family, on the ground that he ‘did not choose to be any gentleman's gentleman.’ On 27 June 1816 he was sworn a member of the privy council. In 1820, he bought Swallowfield Park
, Reading, and his remaining years were mainly spent there, where he died on 18 January 1836.
, Kent; she died in 1780, and, with her son Henry, who died in 1781, is buried at Lydd, where there is a monument to her memory by Flaxman. Russell married, secondly, on 23 July 1782, Anne Barbara (died 1 August 1814), fifth daughter of Sir Charles Whitworth, and sister of Charles, Earl Whitworth; and by her had six sons and five daughters. Three of the sons entered the East India Company's service. He was succeeded by Sir Henry Russell, 2nd Baronet, who was resident at Hyderabad. Charles (died 1856), after leaving India, was member of parliament for Reading; and Francis Whitworth Russell (1790–1852) died at Chittagong
on 25 March 1852.
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
. The Russell baronetcy
Russell Baronets
There have been seven Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Russell, three in the Baronetage of England and four in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom....
of Swallowfield
Swallowfield
Swallowfield is a village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire. It is situated south of the town of Reading, and north of the county boundary with Hampshire....
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 10 December 1812 for him. Russell was the Chief Justice of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
.
Life
Born at DoverDover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
, on 8 August 1751, he was the third son of Michael Russell (1711–1793) of Dover, by his wife Hannah, daughter of Henry Henshaw. Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke
Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke
Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke PC was an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor. He was a close confidant of the Duke of Newcastle, Prime Minister between 1754 and 1756 and 1757 until 1762....
nominated him in 1763 to the foundation of the Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
, and he was educated there and at Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
(B.A. 1772, M.A. 1775).
Having been admitted a member of Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
, 20 June 1768, he was appointed about 1775 by Lord Bathurst
Allen Bathurst, 1st Earl Bathurst
Allen Bathurst, 1st Earl Bathurst PC , known as the Lord Bathurst from 1712 to 1772, was a British politician....
to a commissionership in bankruptcy; and was called to the bar on 7 July 1783. In 1797 he was appointed a puisne judge in the supreme court of judicature, Bengal, and was knighted. He reached Calcutta on 28 May 1798. In 1807 he was appointed chief justice of the supreme court in place of Sir John Anstruther. On 8 January 1808 he pronounced judgment in a case that attracted much attention at the time. John Grant, a company's cadet, was found guilty of maliciously setting fire to an Indian's hut. In sentencing him to death, the chief justice said: ‘The natives are entitled to have their characters, property, and lives protected; and as long as they enjoy that privilege from us, they give their affection and allegiance in return’. Russell's house at Calcutta stood in what was later called after him, Russell Street. Here, on 2 March 1800, died his wife's niece, Rose Aylmer, whose memory is perpetuated in a poem of that name by Walter Savage Landor
Walter Savage Landor
Walter Savage Landor was an English writer and poet. His best known works were the prose Imaginary Conversations, and the poem Rose Aylmer, but the critical acclaim he received from contemporary poets and reviewers was not matched by public popularity...
.
By patent dated 10 December 1812 Russell was created a baronet. On 9 November 1813 he resigned the chief justiceship; testimony to his merits was formally recorded in a general letter from the Bengal government to the court of directors of the East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, dated 7 December 1813. Russell left Calcutta two days later, and on his return to England the Company awarded him a pension of £2,000 a year. After his retirement he declined the offer from Charles Whitworth, 1st Earl Whitworth
Charles Whitworth, 1st Earl Whitworth
Charles Whitworth, 1st Earl Whitworth GCB, PC , known as The Lord Whitworth between 1800 and 1813 and as The Viscount Whitworth between 1813 and 1815, was a British diplomat and politician.-Early years:...
, his brother-in-law, of a seat in parliament, as member for East Grinstead
East Grinstead (UK Parliament constituency)
East Grinstead was a parliamentary constituency in the Kingdom of England, the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. It first existed as a Parliamentary borough from 1307, returning two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons elected by the bloc vote system...
, a pocket borough of the Sackville family, on the ground that he ‘did not choose to be any gentleman's gentleman.’ On 27 June 1816 he was sworn a member of the privy council. In 1820, he bought Swallowfield Park
Swallowfield Park
Swallowfield Park is a Grade II* listed stately home and estate in the English county of Berkshire. The house is situated near the village of Swallowfield, some 4 miles south of the town of Reading.-The House :...
, Reading, and his remaining years were mainly spent there, where he died on 18 January 1836.
Family
He married, on 1 August 1776, Anne, daughter of John Skinner of LyddLydd
Lydd is a town in Kent, England, lying on the Romney Marsh. It is one of the larger towns on the Marsh, and the most southerly town in Kent. Actually located on Denge Marsh, Lydd was one of the first sandy islands to form as the bay evolved into what is now called the Romney Marsh...
, Kent; she died in 1780, and, with her son Henry, who died in 1781, is buried at Lydd, where there is a monument to her memory by Flaxman. Russell married, secondly, on 23 July 1782, Anne Barbara (died 1 August 1814), fifth daughter of Sir Charles Whitworth, and sister of Charles, Earl Whitworth; and by her had six sons and five daughters. Three of the sons entered the East India Company's service. He was succeeded by Sir Henry Russell, 2nd Baronet, who was resident at Hyderabad. Charles (died 1856), after leaving India, was member of parliament for Reading; and Francis Whitworth Russell (1790–1852) died at Chittagong
Chittagong
Chittagong ) is a city in southeastern Bangladesh and the capital of an eponymous district and division. Built on the banks of the Karnaphuli River, the city is home to Bangladesh's busiest seaport and has a population of over 4.5 million, making it the second largest city in the country.A trading...
on 25 March 1852.