William Russell (Virginia)
Encyclopedia
William Russell was an army officer and a prominent settler of the southwestern region of the Virginia Colony. He led an early attempt to settle the "Kentuckee Territory" (then part of Virginia). He was a justice
of Fincastle County, Virginia
. Russell aided in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence
. During the American Revolutionary War
he fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant
(1774) and the Battle of Yorktown
(1781). While a representative in the Virginia House of Delegates
, Russell was noted for his stance opposing the 1785 State of Franklin
petition for admittance into the United States
.
—survived him by more than thirty years. Elizabeth was important in the early history of the Methodist Church in America. Many descendants of Russell lived in Russell
and Scott
Counties in Virginia.
He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati
.
smen was ambushed by Native American
s and Russell's eldest son, along with the eldest son of Daniel Boone
, was killed. After the battle, the party became discouraged and turned back.
, he aided in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Russell was serving in the Virginia House of Delegates at the time of his death.
In the American Revolutionary War, he participated in the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant
. He was promoted to Colonel
in 1776. After the fall of Charleston in 1780, Russell was captured by the British
and held prisoner. He was subsequently exchanged
, and rejoined the Continental Line
. Russell was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown
in 1781. During this time, he was brevetted to the rank of Brigadier General, commanding the 5th Virginia Regiment
, until it was disbanded on 15 November 1783.
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
of Fincastle County, Virginia
Fincastle County, Virginia
Fincastle County, Virginia, was created in 1772 from Botetourt County, the boundaries of which extended all the way to the Mississippi River. Fincastle County was abolished in 1776, and divided into three new counties—Montgomery County, Washington County, and Kentucky County .Although no county...
. Russell aided in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence
United States Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was a statement adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain regarded themselves as independent states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. John Adams put forth a...
. During the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
he fought in the Battle of Point Pleasant
Battle of Point Pleasant
The Battle of Point Pleasant, known as the Battle of Kanawha in some older accounts, was the only major battle of Dunmore's War. It was fought on October 10, 1774, primarily between Virginia militia and American Indians from the Shawnee and Mingo tribes...
(1774) and the Battle of Yorktown
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
(1781). While a representative in the Virginia House of Delegates
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbered years. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House, who is elected from among the...
, Russell was noted for his stance opposing the 1785 State of Franklin
State of Franklin
The State of Franklin, known also as the Free Republic of Franklin or the State of Frankland , was an unrecognized autonomous United States territory created in 1784 from part of the territory west of the Appalachian Mountains that had been offered,...
petition for admittance into the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Personal life
William Russell was educated at the College of William & Mary. Russell's first wife was Tabitha Adams, who died in 1776. His second wife, Elizabeth Henry —a sister of Patrick HenryPatrick Henry
Patrick Henry was an orator and politician who led the movement for independence in Virginia in the 1770s. A Founding Father, he served as the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia from 1776 to 1779 and subsequently, from 1784 to 1786...
—survived him by more than thirty years. Elizabeth was important in the early history of the Methodist Church in America. Many descendants of Russell lived in Russell
Russell County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,308 people, 11,789 households, and 8,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile . There were 13,191 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
and Scott
Scott County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,403 people, 9,795 households, and 7,023 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile . There were 11,355 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
Counties in Virginia.
He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati
Society of the Cincinnati
The Society of the Cincinnati is a historical organization with branches in the United States and France founded in 1783 to preserve the ideals and fellowship of the American Revolutionary War officers and to pressure the government to honor pledges it had made to officers who fought for American...
.
Frontiersman
Russell led a early attempt to settle the area that would become Kentucky —then part of Fincastle County, Virginia —in September 1773. The party of frontierFrontier
A frontier is a political and geographical term referring to areas near or beyond a boundary. 'Frontier' was absorbed into English from French in the 15th century, with the meaning "borderland"--the region of a country that fronts on another country .The use of "frontier" to mean "a region at the...
smen was ambushed by Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
s and Russell's eldest son, along with the eldest son of Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone was an American pioneer, explorer, and frontiersman whose frontier exploits mad']'e him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. Boone is most famous for his exploration and settlement of what is now the Commonwealth of Kentucky, which was then beyond the western borders of...
, was killed. After the battle, the party became discouraged and turned back.
Civic and military life
Russell was elected a justice of Fincastle County, Virginia. As a Virginia representative to the Continental CongressContinental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
, he aided in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence. Russell was serving in the Virginia House of Delegates at the time of his death.
In the American Revolutionary War, he participated in the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant
Battle of Point Pleasant
The Battle of Point Pleasant, known as the Battle of Kanawha in some older accounts, was the only major battle of Dunmore's War. It was fought on October 10, 1774, primarily between Virginia militia and American Indians from the Shawnee and Mingo tribes...
. He was promoted to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in 1776. After the fall of Charleston in 1780, Russell was captured by the British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
and held prisoner. He was subsequently exchanged
Prisoner exchange
A prisoner exchange or prisoner swap is a deal between opposing sides in a conflict to release prisoners. These may be prisoners of war, spies, hostages, etc...
, and rejoined the Continental Line
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...
. Russell was present at the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown
Yorktown, Virginia
Yorktown is a census-designated place in York County, Virginia, United States. The population was 220 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat of York County, one of the eight original shires formed in colonial Virginia in 1634....
in 1781. During this time, he was brevetted to the rank of Brigadier General, commanding the 5th Virginia Regiment
5th Virginia Regiment
The 5th Virginia Regiment was raised on December 28, 1775 at Richmond, Virginia for service with the U.S. Continental Army. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Trenton, Battle of Princeton, Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. The regiment...
, until it was disbanded on 15 November 1783.
Legacy
- Russell County, VirginiaRussell County, VirginiaAs of the census of 2000, there were 30,308 people, 11,789 households, and 8,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile . There were 13,191 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
, and Russellville, KentuckyRussellville, KentuckyAs of the census of 2000, there were 7,149 people, 3,064 households, and 1,973 families residing in the city. The population density was 672.1 people per square mile . There were 3,458 housing units at an average density of 325.1 per square mile...
, are named for him. - Russell County, KentuckyRussell County, KentuckyRussell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The population was 17,565 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Jamestown. The county is named for William Russell...
, is named for his son William Russell (III)William Russell (Kentucky)Colonel William Russell III was a soldier, pioneer, and politician from Virginia and Kentucky.He was born in Culpepper County, Virginia to William Russell and Tabitha Russell. William Russell, Sr., was a prominent citizen of southwestern Virginia and a colonel in the Continental Army during the...
.