William Worthington Russell

William W. Russell

Birth name| William Worthington Russell
Born| (1821-09-20)September 20, 1821
Died| October 31, 1862(1862-10-31) (aged 41)
Allegiance|  United States
Service / branch| United States Marine Corps
Rank|  Major
Battles / wars| Mexican–American War
Raid on Harper's Ferry
American Civil War

William Worthington Russell (September 20, 1821 – October 31, 1862) was a United States Marine Corps officer who served as the paymaster of the U.S. Marine Corps during the mid-19th century.[1]

## Early life

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Russell was born on September 20, 1821. He was the son of Robert Grier Russell and Susan Hood (née Worthington) Russell. Among his siblings were Admiral Alexander Wilson Russell and Rear Admiral John Henry Russell.[2]

His paternal grandfather was lawyer and Revolutionary War soldier Alexander Russell, and among his extended family were uncle James McPherson Russell, a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, and first cousin, U.S. Representative Samuel Lyon Russell. Through his brother John, he was uncle to Maj.-Gen. John H. Russell Jr. (father of Brooke Astor).[3]

## Career

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Russell served as Paymaster of the Marines for two decades. While serving under the command of General Winfield Scott in the Mexican–American War, he was aboard the ship USS Independence when Captain Shubrick ordered Russell to lead a counter-attack from Mexican forces at San José, Mexico.[4]

### Civil War

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At the beginning of the U.S. Civil War, Russell served as aide-de-camp for General George B. McClellan.[4] He participated in the U.S. government's response to John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry, alongside Robert E. Lee, J. E. B. Stuart, and Israel Greene,[5] and captured John Brown's pike in the process.[6] Of the four officers who led the government's response to Brown's raid, only Russell remained loyal to the United States, with the rest joining the Confederacy after the American Civil War broke out. Alcoholism led to his resignation, and untimely death, in 1862.[4]

## Personal life

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Photograph of his son, William W. Russell, 1905

Russell was married to Virginia Fletcher of Alexandria, Virginia. Together, they were the parents of two daughters and a son, including:

* Virginia Fletcher Russell (1854–1943), who married John Buchanan Brewer.[7]
* William Worthington Russell Jr. (1858–1944),[8] a U.S. diplomat who served under five presidents; he married Grace Campbell Lidstone in 1905.[9]
* Lucy Briscoe Russell (1860–1943), who died unmarried.[10]

Russell died from alcoholism on October 31, 1862.[4][11]

## References

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1. ^ "1862 Treasury Department Letter to Marine Corps Paymaster, Major William W. Russell - Regarding Dismissal of Marine Lieutenant George W. Cummins". www.ironhorsemilitaryantiques.com. Iron Horse Military Antiques. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
2. ^ Thompson, Noma (1949). Western Gateway to the National Capital (Rockville, Maryland). Stewart Printing Company. pp. 118–120. Retrieved 14 March 2023.118-120&rft.pub=Stewart+Printing+Company&rft.date=1949&rft.aulast=Thompson&rft.aufirst=Noma&rft_id=https://books.google.com/books?id=PX2XxZlGIGAC&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:William+Worthington+Russell" class="Z3988">
3. ^ Tyler, Lyon Gardiner (1915). Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Under the Editorial Supervision of Lyon Gardiner Tyler. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 1034. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
4. ^ a b c d "Original Documents of the Marine Paymaster, 1853-1854 by William Worthington Russell, Major on Alcuin Books, Ltd". www.alcuinbooks.com. Alcuin Books, Ltd. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
5. ^ Nalty, Bernard C. (1983). United States Marines at Harper's Ferry and in the Civil War (PDF). Washington, D.C.: History and Museums Division Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
6. ^ "John Brown Pike Captured by Marine Major William Worthington | Lot #52113". historical.ha.com. Heritage Auctions. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
7. ^ Who's who in the Nation's Capital. Consolidated Publishing Company. 1921. p. 4. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
8. ^ "W. W. Russell Dies; Retired Diplomat". Evening Star. 13 March 1944. p. 8. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
9. ^ The National Cyclopædia of American Biography: Being the History of the United States as Illustrated in the Lives of the Founders, Builders, and Defenders of the Republic, and of the Men and Women who are Doing the Work and Moulding the Thought of the Present Time. J. T. White. 1916. p. 58. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
10. ^ "Miss Lucy B. Russell To Be Buried Tomorrow". Evening Star. 16 September 1943. p. 12. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
11. ^ "Funeral Ceremonies". The Evening Star. November 3, 1862. "The funeral of the late Major Wm. W. Russell took place yesterday at noon from the residence of his brother, on D, near Third street. Many officers of the Navy and prominent citizens were in attendance. A silver plat upon the coffin in which the remains were placed bore the simple inscription, 'Major Wm. W. Russell, Paymaster, United States Marine Corps, died October 31, 1862, aged forty-two years.' The beautiful funeral service of the Episcopal Church was read by Rev. Mr. Smith, assistant pastor of the Epiphany. The following named gentlemen acted as pall-bearers; Commanders Wise and Bankhead, U.S.N., Majors Doughty and Nicholson, U.S. Marine Corps; Messrs. Moran and McNairy, of the Navy Department, and Messrs. A.S.H. White and Malcolm Seaton on the part of the citizens. The veteran Colonel Commandant of the Marine Corps also participated in the solemn ceremonies. The corpse was borne to the Congressional Burial Ground, preceded by two companies of United States marines, under command of Capt. Lucian L. Dawson, of the Marine Corps, accompanied by the full Marine Band, and followed by the relatives and friends of the deceased. The funeral service was concluded at the grave, and appropriate military honors were paid to the remains."