Background and education
Russell was born in London, England, on 3 February 1853, the youngest son of Lord Charles Russell, sixth son of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford. His mother was Isabella Clarisa Davies, daughter of William Griffith Davies, of Penylan, Carmarthenshire. He was educated at Harrow School, Harrow and University College, Oxford. Though he entered University College as a Scholar, he obtained only a Pass degree. Ill-health, particularly myelitis, put paid to any chance of academic distinction.Political career
Russell was Liberal Party (UK), Liberal Member of Parliament for Aylesbury (UK Parliament constituency), Aylesbury from 1880 to 1885, and for Biggleswade (UK Parliament constituency), Biggleswade from 1892 to 1895. He was appointed by William Ewart Gladstone as Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board from 1883 to 1885 and as Under-Secretary of State for India from 1892 to 1894. Under Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, Lord Rosebery he was Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department from 1894 to 1895. He was also an Alderman on London County Council from 1889 to 1895. He was appointed a Privy Council of the United Kingdom, Privy Counsellor in 1907, and held the honorary degree of LLD from St Andrews University. He was the author of the biography ''The Right Honourable William Ewart Gladstone'' (1891). Russell was a journalist by profession, and a close ally of the Grand Old Man, a home ruler, when Gladstone presented the bill to the Commons for the second time on 13 February 1893.Personal life
Russell died, unmarried, at 18 Wilton Street, London, on 17 March 1919, aged 66.Photographs
The Victoria and Albert Museum's photograph of Russell can be seen online.Selected publications
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* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, George William Erskine 1853 births 1919 deaths Liberal Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom UK MPs 1880–1885 UK MPs 1892–1895 Members of London County Council People educated at Harrow School Alumni of University College, Oxford Russell family, George Progressive Party (London) politicians