John Russell (born c. 1852, date of death unknown) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
On that day, while Trenton was at Genoa, Italy, he and Seaman Philip Moore jumped overboard and rescued Ordinary Seaman Hans Paulsen from drowning.
For this action, both Russell and Moore were awarded the Medal of Honor four years later, on October 18, 1884.
[1] Russell's official Medal of Honor citation reads: For jumping overboard from the U.S.S.
Trenton, at Genoa, Italy, 21 September 1880, and rescuing from drowning Hans Paulsen, ordinary seaman.