George Robert Russell (May 5, 1800 – August 5, 1866)[1] was a prominent New England merchant who co-founded and co-owned one of the leading U.S. trading houses in the Philippines, the Sturgis and Russell Company, during the nineteenth century.
Russell had many sisters in his family, one named Amelia who he frequently wrote to when he left the United States.
Afterward, Russell wrote to his sisters that he needed to leave the United States to start making a fortune.
After witnessing the revolution in Peru, Russell knew he could not establish his business in the region.
Russell sailed on a ship from Lima to Manila where he saw a vast array of opportunities in the Island of Luconia.
Russell was convinced that his decision to leave South America was not a mistake.
It had native Filipinos as assistants but could not sleep in the house, They were permitted to enter during only business hours.
However, his expertise in law helped his business both thrive and survive in a time of economic uncertainty.
Russell and Sturgis would be one of the few companies to not engage in narcotics trading at this time and region.
His half-brother Jonathan Russell and colleague Edward Green would be the next successors and co-partners.
[10] George Russell was described as a man of high honor and integrity.
He just wanted his business to thrive to be comfortable and not be in financial trouble like in the earlier years of his life.
Russell noted "I never expected to be able to nabobize but hope at some future day to live comfortably in my own country."
After the Galleons : Foreign Trade, Economic Change & Entrepreneurship in the Nineteenth Century Philippines.