Bourn Russell
Encyclopedia
Bourne Russell was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
between 1858 and 1880. He was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for four months in 1856.
. However he was bankrupted in the recession of the late 1840s. Russell regained his fortune by establishing a boiling-down works near Mudgee
. His fourth son was the noted astronomer Henry Russell
.
at the first election held in New South Wales under responsible government. He was the second candidate, after George Nichols
, to be elected for the two member seat and he defeated the next candidate, Elias Weekes
, by 13 votes. However, Weekes contested the election on the grounds that more than 20 people who were unqualified to vote had voted for Russell. After investigating this claim, the Assembly's Elections and Qualifications Committee overturned the result and awarded the seat to Weekes. Russell was unsuccessful in an attempt to regain the seat at the 1857 by-election caused by the death of Nichols. Following this defeat he accepted an appointment to the Legislative Council initially for a fixed term expiring in 1861 and then as a life member. He did not hold a ministerial or parliamentary position.
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
between 1858 and 1880. He was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
for four months in 1856.
Early life
Russell was the son of Bourne Russell, a merchant sea captain and Hannah Chandler, he received an elementary education at the Rye Free Grammar School. He was apprenticed to sea at age 16 and within 5 years had become a ship's commander. Russell made his fortune by investing in vessels trading with China and the South Seas and he became involved in the New South Wales whaling industry after 1824. In 1834 Russell established his family in New South Wales and by 1844 he had developed pastoral interests and settled in MaitlandMaitland, New South Wales
Maitland is a city in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Maitland City Council, situated on the Hunter River approximately by road north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle...
. However he was bankrupted in the recession of the late 1840s. Russell regained his fortune by establishing a boiling-down works near Mudgee
Mudgee, New South Wales
Mudgee is a town in the central west of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in the broad fertile Cudgegong River valley 261 kilometres north west of Sydney. Mudgee is the centre of the Mid-Western Regional Council Local Government Area...
. His fourth son was the noted astronomer Henry Russell
Henry Chamberlain Russell
Henry Chamberlain Russell, CMG, FRS, was an Australian astronomer and meteorologist.-Early life:Russell was born at West Maitland, New South Wales, the fourth son of the Hon. Bourn Russell and his wife Jane, née Mackreth...
.
State Parliament
Russell was elected as the member for Northumberland BoroughsElectoral district of Northumberland Boroughs
Northumberland Boroughs was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1856 to 1859, including the towns of Morpeth, East Maitland, and West Maitland, and named after Northumberland County...
at the first election held in New South Wales under responsible government. He was the second candidate, after George Nichols
George Nichols (Australian politician)
George Nichols was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1848 and 1856. He was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for one term from 1856 until his death.-Early life:Nichols was the son of Issac Nichols a former convict...
, to be elected for the two member seat and he defeated the next candidate, Elias Weekes
Elias Weekes
Elias Weekes was an Australian ironmonger and politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1865 and 1880. He was also a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1856 and 1864...
, by 13 votes. However, Weekes contested the election on the grounds that more than 20 people who were unqualified to vote had voted for Russell. After investigating this claim, the Assembly's Elections and Qualifications Committee overturned the result and awarded the seat to Weekes. Russell was unsuccessful in an attempt to regain the seat at the 1857 by-election caused by the death of Nichols. Following this defeat he accepted an appointment to the Legislative Council initially for a fixed term expiring in 1861 and then as a life member. He did not hold a ministerial or parliamentary position.