William Russell (11 November 1740 – 26 January 1818) was a practical Christian, a practising Unitarian, a Birmingham merchant and a close friend and sponsor of Joseph Priestley, who helped agitate against penal laws affecting English Dissenters and canvassed for a national political union.

Following his marriage to Martha Twamley in September 1762, he invested in a leather business in Worcester in partnership with Henry Beesley, and in 1772 set up the shipping company Respondentia, with Thomas and Nathaniel Jefferys.

Russell employed two labourers to run the farm and stables, but took a personal interest in stock-breeding, a subject on which he corresponded with George Washington, America's first president.

[5] As one of Birmingham's leading citizens, Russell's advice and support was sought for many of the important commercial, civic and social causes of the day.

In 1787, he was appointed one of the Wardens of the Birmingham Assay Office, supporting Matthew Boulton in recommending the introduction in Britain of standards of silver lower than sterling (9 oz.

[6] When Russell's house was targeted for destruction in the 1791 Birmingham riots, his poor and illiterate neighbours came to his aid, some calming and dissuading roadside rioters.

When the college faced bankruptcy with debts of two thousand pounds because of over-expansion and poor supervision of the builders, he dashed to London to add his support, chairing a subcommittee appointed to 'reduce household expenses.

[11] When this prompted a vitriolic response from the Anglicans,[12] Russell encouraged Priestley to write the anonymous Melanchton to Martin Luther.

Though this was not always their effect in practice, the Test and Corporation Acts were intended to limit public office to practising Anglicans, and came to be seen as an essential bulwark of the union between church and state.

As a first step, he persuaded representatives of the various Baptist, Independent and Presbyterian congregations to attend a meeting at Dadley's hotel, Birmingham on 14 October 1789.

[19] Countrywide support, prompted by Russell's vigorous canvassing, led the London Deputies to meet with country delegates, to discuss the issue.

Echoing the resolutions of the Birmingham Committee, the Midland District meeting issued a sweeping condemnation of all penal statutes against Dissenters.

[20] Following the failure of the third application for the repeal of the Test Acts, Russell and Priestley sought parliamentary reform as the most effectual means of achieving equal citizenship.

Four days after weighing anchor, their ship was intercepted by the French frigate Proserpine, to which the Russells with other British citizens were forced to transfer.

It was here that Priestley stayed the following spring, whilst giving a series of lectures on the evidences of Christianity, at the Universalist chapel in Lombard Street.

During this time an interested group of English expatriates met with Priestley, seeking his advice in planning the formation of a Unitarian society.

The loan not being repaid, in February 1799, Skipwith conveyed through Russell's agent, Mr. Walker, a house in Paris on the Quai Voltaire, and an estate in Normandy, the Ardenne Abbey, at St Germain la Blanche Herbe, on the Bayeux road, four kilometres from Caen.

Although no money had changed hands at the time, and Russell himself was 3000 miles away and knew nothing of the transaction, technically he had purchased property in a country with which Britain was at war.

Furthermore, having offended the government by his 'perseverance in endeavouring to establish a bond of union among Dissenters, and to support the plan for District Meetings, &c.,' he could not expect a dispensation.

Russell enthusiastically agreed, later financing the publication of French translations of Priestley's Institutes of Religion, and Alexander Geddes' Apology for the Catholics, and, in 1805, an edition of the Geneva Bible.

The Protestant pastor, M. Fontbonne du Vernet, who had gone into seven years hiding during the Terror, was now holding services in a room in the rue de Bras, but few attended.

In 1802, a new Concordat with the Vatican had eased religious tensions, and by November 1803, the congregation was able to move to a larger, former Benedictine chapel in rue de Geôle at Caen.

His help to the poor was regular and extensive, particularly during the winter bread shortages, and earned him the accolade le père des pauvres.