Born in London, he was largely self-made, rising to become Editor of the Liverpool Daily Post, a position he held for almost fifty years.

He is reputed to have been a man of great ability, with high religious and moral standards.

Well-travelled, an advocate of Temperance, and regarded as an able public speaker, he supported the Liberal Party and was a founder of the Liverpool Parliamentary Debating Society.

In writing parliamentary reports, he came to know members of the government and was a friend of William Ewart Gladstone.

When Russell returned to Liverpool in 1869, as editor of the Daily Post, which, under his leadership, it became known as a leading provincial newspaper.