He then joined the 14th Hussars as cornet on 6 February 1863, was promoted to lieutenant on 23 August 1864, and to captain on 13 June 1868.
[2] In 1875, Russell joined the staff of the Royal Military College, as an inspector in tactics, then in 1878 he moved to the Intelligence Branch.
In 1892, he was made brigadier-general of the Aberdeen Defence Brigade, and in 1897 he was promoted to the rank of major-general.
Russell received the 1st class of the Prussian Order of the Crown in late 1902, following an inspection of the Royal Dragoons by Emperor Wilhelm II, who was colonel-in-chief of the regiment.
[3] He stood unsuccessfully for the Conservative Party in East Aberdeenshire at the 1892 UK general election, and again at a by-election in December.