William Russell (politician, 1857)

William Russell

William Eustis Russell (born January 6, 1857 in Cambridge , Massachusetts , †  July 16, 1896 ) was an American politician and governor of the state of Massachusetts from 1891 to 1894 .

Early years and political advancement

William Russell attended Harvard University until 1877 and then studied law at Boston University until 1879. He then worked as a lawyer in his father's office. He became a member of the Democratic Party . Between 1883 and 1884 he was on Cambridge City Council and from 1884 to 1887 he was mayor of that city. In the following years he applied twice unsuccessfully for the office of governor of Massachusetts: first he lost to Oliver Ames , then to John Brackett .

Massachusetts Governor

On November 4, 1890, William Russell was elected as the new governor of his state with 49:46 percent of the vote against the Republican incumbent Brackett. Since he was confirmed in each of the following two years, he could exercise his office between January 7, 1891 and January 3, 1894. During his tenure, the so-called " poll tax " was abolished in Massachusetts, which linked the right to vote with a certain wealth. An inheritance tax was introduced for this. In addition, some labor laws were reformed.

Another résumé

After his governorship ended, Russell returned to practice as a lawyer. In early July 1896 he was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago . He died just days later. William Russell had three children with his wife Margaret Manning. His son Richard was a member of the US House of Representatives between 1935 and 1936 .

Web links

• William Russell at the National Governors Association (English)
• William Russell in the database of Find a Grave (English)