Thomas Russell CMG (c. 1830 – 2 September 1904) was a lawyer, politician, businessman and entrepreneur in 19th-century New Zealand.
[1] The family emigrated to Australia as steerage passengers in 1833, and settled in Maitland, New South Wales, where his father farmed.
[5] Russell was elected as MP for Auckland City East in 1861, holding the electorate until his retirement from politics in 1866.
During this time the New Zealand Settlements Act (1863) was passed, facilitating the confiscation of Māori-owned land.
In January 1872, Cyrus Haley, who had a grudge against Russell, attacked the home (later replaced by the Pah Homestead), firing shots into each of the bedrooms.