William Huntington Russell
Encyclopedia
William Huntington Russell (12 August 1809 – 19 May 1885) was an American businessman, educator, and politician. He was the founder of the Yale University
secret society Skull and Bones
. He was a descendant of several old New England families, including those of Pierpont
, Hooker
, Willett
, Bingham
, and Russell. His ancestor Rev. Noadiah Russell
was a founder and original trustee of Yale College
.
, Russell was a cadet at the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy (later Norwich University)
from 1826 until graduation in 1828, where he was taught under strict military discipline. In 1828, William's father died, piling family responsibility on to him. Under severe financial restraints, he entered Yale College
. He supported himself throughout his college years.
. To begin with, the school
was only attended by a small number of boys, but by the time of Russell's death the school had become well known and had graduated around 4,000 boys. In about 1840, Russell introduced a very thorough military drill and discipline into his school. He foresaw a Civil War in the future, and wanted to make sure his boys were prepared to fight for the Union. His students were so well schooled in military affairs that on the outbreak of Civil War some were enlisted as drill instructors.
He not only gave his students to the Union army, but also his own services. Governor Buckingham realized that Russell was one of the most knowledgeable men in military affairs. For this reason, Russell was hired to organize the Connecticut militia. He was later made a major-general by act of the legislature.
From 1846 to 1847, Russell served as a Whig
in the Connecticut state legislature. Upon the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
in 1854, he became active as one of the leaders of the movement which resulted in the organization of the Republican Party. He was a strong abolitionist and a friend of John Brown
. Russell was named as a trustee in the will of John Brown. He was also the Connecticut representative on the National Kansas Committee.
as the Russell Trust, later the Russell Trust Association
. The Russell Trust Association is a tax-exempt association; it holds possession of the Skull and Bones Hall at Yale University
and the society's holiday island, Deer Island.
. Russell sought to protect the birds from the boys. The activity was too much for him and he fell unconscious from a fatal rupture of a blood vessel and died several days later.
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
secret society Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
. He was a descendant of several old New England families, including those of Pierpont
James Pierpont (Yale founder)
James Pierpont was a Congregationalist minister who is credited with the founding of Yale University in the United States...
, Hooker
Thomas Hooker
Thomas Hooker was a prominent Puritan colonial leader, who founded the Colony of Connecticut after dissenting with Puritan leaders in Massachusetts...
, Willett
Willett
-Athletes:*Adam Willett - American boxer*Ed Willett, a former pitcher in Major League Baseball*Elquemedo Willett, a West Indian test cricketer*Tonito Willett, a West Indian test cricketer-Literature:*Jincy Willett, American author...
, Bingham
Hiram Bingham I
Hiram Bingham, formally Hiram Bingham I , was leader of the first group of Protestant missionaries to introduce Christianity to the Hawaiian islands.-Life:...
, and Russell. His ancestor Rev. Noadiah Russell
Noadiah Russell (Yale founder)
The Reverend Noadiah Russell was a Congregationalist minster, one of the founders and trustees of Yale College, and one of the framers of the Saybrook Platform....
was a founder and original trustee of Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
.
Early life
Born in Middletown, ConnecticutMiddletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
, Russell was a cadet at the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy (later Norwich University)
Norwich University
Norwich University is a private university located in Northfield, Vermont . The university was founded in 1819 at Norwich, Vermont, as the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy. It is the oldest of six Senior Military Colleges, and is recognized by the United States Department of...
from 1826 until graduation in 1828, where he was taught under strict military discipline. In 1828, William's father died, piling family responsibility on to him. Under severe financial restraints, he entered Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
. He supported himself throughout his college years.
Career
Russell had planned on entering the ministry, but his financial problems forced him to obtain an immediate income through teaching. In September 1836, he opened a private prep school for boys in a small dwelling house. The school would become known as the New Haven Collegiate and Commercial InstituteRussell Military Academy
The New Haven Collegiate and Commercial Institute was founded by Stiles French in 1833 and is a defunct military academy...
. To begin with, the school
Russell Military Academy
The New Haven Collegiate and Commercial Institute was founded by Stiles French in 1833 and is a defunct military academy...
was only attended by a small number of boys, but by the time of Russell's death the school had become well known and had graduated around 4,000 boys. In about 1840, Russell introduced a very thorough military drill and discipline into his school. He foresaw a Civil War in the future, and wanted to make sure his boys were prepared to fight for the Union. His students were so well schooled in military affairs that on the outbreak of Civil War some were enlisted as drill instructors.
He not only gave his students to the Union army, but also his own services. Governor Buckingham realized that Russell was one of the most knowledgeable men in military affairs. For this reason, Russell was hired to organize the Connecticut militia. He was later made a major-general by act of the legislature.
From 1846 to 1847, Russell served as a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
in the Connecticut state legislature. Upon the repeal of the Missouri Compromise
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an agreement passed in 1820 between the pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions in the United States Congress, involving primarily the regulation of slavery in the western territories. It prohibited slavery in the former Louisiana Territory north of the parallel 36°30'...
in 1854, he became active as one of the leaders of the movement which resulted in the organization of the Republican Party. He was a strong abolitionist and a friend of John Brown
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
. Russell was named as a trustee in the will of John Brown. He was also the Connecticut representative on the National Kansas Committee.
Later life
In 1856, with several other Bonesmen, he incorporated Skull and BonesSkull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
as the Russell Trust, later the Russell Trust Association
Russell Trust Association
The Russell Trust Association is the business name for the New Haven, Connecticut, based Skull and Bones society, incorporated in 1856.The Russell Trust was incorporated by William Huntington Russell as its president, and Daniel Coit Gilman as its first treasurer...
. The Russell Trust Association is a tax-exempt association; it holds possession of the Skull and Bones Hall at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and the society's holiday island, Deer Island.
Death
In May 1885, Russell saw some boys throwing stones at birds in the park in New Haven, ConnecticutNew Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. Russell sought to protect the birds from the boys. The activity was too much for him and he fell unconscious from a fatal rupture of a blood vessel and died several days later.