[1] Born at St Andrew's Church, Somerset Road, Cape Town, to The Reverend J.M.
At the South African College he obtained a double degree in Arts and Science and was awarded the Ebden Scholarship to study overseas for three years.
From 1902 to 1915 he was editor of the Supreme Court Reports of the Cape Colony and Union of South Africa before his elevation to the bench in Southern Rhodesia.
[3] In 1931 Russell was appointed Chief Justice of Southern Rhodesia and, in 1939, President of the Rhodesian Court of Appeal.
[3] Their daughter Ida married the West Indian Test cricket captain, and later teacher and missionary in Africa, Jackie Grant.