William Russell (governor)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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William Eustis Russell
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| In office January 8, 1891 – January 4, 1894 |
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| Lieutenant | William H. Haile (1891-1893) Roger Wolcott (1893-1894) |
| Preceded by | John Q. A. Brackett |
| Succeeded by | Frederic T. Greenhalge |
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Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts
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| In office 1885 – 1888 |
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Member of the Board of Alderman of Cambridge, Massachusetts
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| In office 1883 – 1884 |
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Member of the Common Council of Cambridge, Massachusetts
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| In office 1882 – 1882 |
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| Born | January 6, 1857 Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Died | July 16, 1896 (aged 39) |
| Political party | Democratic |
William Eustis Russell (January 6, 1857 - July 16, 1896) was a U.S. political figure. He served as Democratic governor of Massachusetts between 1891 and 1894, becoming the states youngest ever elected Governor (age 34).
Russell was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, graduated from Harvard College in 1877, and received his law degree from the Boston University School of Law. He was Mayor of Cambridge 1884-1887, during which time he solicited a sizeable donation from philanthropist Frederick Hastings Rindge for Cambridge City Hall, a Manual Training School (now Cambridge Rindge and Latin School), and Cambridge's library. He also twice ran unsuccessfully for Governor, defeated by Oliver Ames and John Quincy Adams Brackett.
As Governor, Russell eliminated poll taxes in Massachusetts and began an inheritance tax. He advocated and signed a series of pro-labor laws and established the Trustees of Reservations to preserve open spaces. Russell's son, Richard Manning Russell, later also became Mayor of Cambridge and represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Congress in the 1930s. Russell is the great grandfather of Libertarian Carla Howell.
During the 1892 presidential campaign, there was talk of Russell being the Vice Presidential nominee if Senator John M. Palmer were to receive the Democratic Presidential nomination. In early February 1892, Palmer had a conference with Patrick A. Collins, a former Democratic Massachusetts Congressman. At this conference, the two Democrats concluded a treaty. The purpose of the treaty was to make Palmer the Democratic Presidential candidate and Massachusetts Governor William Russell, Collin’s personal and political friend, the Vice Presidential candidate. It was argued by Collins that Palmer, being a Western Senator of Kentucky stock, would be acceptable to the Southern Democrats. The objection as to Palmer’s age would be met by pointing out that Russell, the youngest of governors, would become President in the event of his death. Russell’s nomination would command the support of New England Democrats.[1]
In 1903 the William E. Russell School was built at 750 Columbia Road in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. The school was designed by the architect James Mulcahy, and still serves as a Boston Public elementary school.
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[edit] References
- ^ "SENATOR PALMER'S SCHEME.; HOW F.A. COLLINS WAS TO AID IN SECURING A NOMINATION.". New York Times: p. 1. 1892-02-22. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9D03E5D91631E033A25751C2A9649C94639ED7CF. Retrieved on 2009-06-25.
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| Preceded by John Q. A. Brackett |
Governor of Massachusetts 1891–1894 |
Succeeded by Frederic T. Greenhalge |
