14 Facts About Bourn Russell

Bourn Russell was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1858 and 1880.

Bourn Russell was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for four months in 1856.

Bourn Russell's father was killed at sea when Bourn was a boy.

Bourn Russell was 2nd mate on a vessel trading to the Mediterranean when he was pressed into service on a British naval warship during the Napoleonic Wars.

Captain Bourn Russell came to Australia again on the same ship, arriving Sydney with a general cargo in August 1830, this time intending to stay.

Bourn Russell commanded the Lady Rowena on two deep-sea whaling voyages from Sydney between 1830 and 1835.

Bourn Russell had established his family in New South Wales by 1834 and in the early 1840s he developed pastoral interests and settled in Maitland where he became a storekeeper.

Bourn Russell was bankrupted in the recession of the late 1840s but restored his fortunes by establishing a boiling-down works near Maitland to produce tallow for export to Britain.

Bourn Russell's illegitimate son William Watson was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1874 to 1877.

Bourn Russell was elected as the member for Northumberland Boroughs at the first election held in New South Wales under responsible government.

Bourn Russell was the second candidate, after Bob Nichols, to be elected for the two member seat and he defeated the next candidate, Elias Weekes, by 8 votes.

Bourn Russell was unsuccessful in an attempt to regain the seat at the 1857 by-election caused by the death of Nichols.

Bourn Russell did not hold a ministerial or parliamentary position.

Bourn Russell died in Sydney on 4 July 1880 and is buried in Rookwood Cemetery.