Osborne Russell (19 June 1814 – 1 May 1884) was a mountain man and politician who helped form the government of the U.S. state of Oregon.
At age 16, Russell ran away for a life at sea, but quickly gave up that career by deserting his ship at New York.
Afterwards he spent three years in the employ of the Northwest Fur Trapping and Trading Company, which operated in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
The new company defaulted on its contract with Wyeth, who was then left with a surplus of goods and supplies that he had transported to the mountains.
By necessity, Wyeth had to alter his own plans to salvage his company from financial ruin.
Russell would not attend the 1839 Rendezvous, as he had left the employ of the company to become a Free Trapper, once again operating out of Fort Hall.
He was unsuccessful in his run for governor of the Provisional Government in 1845, giving his support to George Abernethy.