Francis Russell (solicitor)

Russell was the youngest son of an attorney, town clerk in Basingstoke, Hampshire, and a younger brother of the Rev.

Around 1762 James Smith-Stanley, Lord Strange as its Chancellor brought him in to do legal work for the Duchy of Lancaster.

[3] He held the title "His Majesty's Surveyor for the South part of the Duchy" (of Lancaster) when Enfield Chace was broken up in 1777.

[2] As part of the break-up, Russell was allowed to buy the freehold of 152 acres of land bordering on Beech Hill and Cockfosters Road in Hadley Wood.

[4] Subsequently, Russell was brought in to reorganise affairs of the East India Company, through Thomas Orde Poulet.