He was educated in the public school in Boston, and as a youth often visited the printing offices of Isaiah Thomas, a newspaper owner with whom he apprenticed in Worcester, Massachusetts.

[4] While in the army Russell was present at the execution of British spy, Major John André who had been working with American General Benedict Arnold to capture the key base at West Point, New York.

This paper he controlled for 40 years and, assisted by Fisher Ames, Timothy Pickering, John Lowell, Stephen Higginson, and George Cabot as contributors, made it one of the most influential organs of the Federalist party.

[6] Russell coined the expression "Era of Good Feeling" on the occasion of President Monroe's visit to Boston in 1817.

He was one of the aldermen of Boston, was a representative to the General Court, State Senator for a number of years, was one of the Governor's Council, and in 1820 was a member of the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention.