THIS WEEK'S GREAT MAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 193, 15 August 1936, Page 5 (Supplement)

THIS WEEK'S GREAT MAN.

LORD JOHN RUSSELL. 1792 - 1878. BORN AUGUST 18, 1792.

Lord. John Russell was born in London on August- 18, 1792. He entered Parliament in 18 1 3 as a Whig. At every opportunity he gave his support to measures of reform. In 1830, when the "Iron Duke" was succeeded by Earl Grey as Prime Minister, Russell became Paymaster to the Forces, nnd assisted in framing the draft of the first Reform Bill, which he also proposed in Parliament in 1831, its passage into law in the following year perhaps saving the country from revolution. In 1835 Russell became Home Secretary. In 1839 he took charge of the Colonial Office. It was at this period of his career that his name was given to the then principal settlement in New Zealand, and thus was given 3 perpetual memorial in our country. In 1846 Russell became Prime Minister, but in 1852 his Government was defeated. In 1861 he was created Earl Russell, and this, of course, involved his leaving the Commons for the Upper House. He will probably, however, always be best remembered as Lord John Russell, his name before elevation to the peerage. He was the younger son of the Duke of Bedford. On the death of Loid Palmerston, Russell became Prime Minister for the second time. In

i 866 he arid Mr. Glad-

Btone introduced a Reform Bill, which, however, was defeated. Until his death on May 28, 1878, he remained an active but unofficial member of the Liberal party. He is stated to have been a good, but not inspired speaker. He had sound common 'sense, wit, and a happy gift of repartee. He was possessed of selfconfidence. Though belonging to an' aristocratic family he was a noted leader of the Reform party. Russell found time and aptitude for literature as well as politics. Amongst his works was "The Journals of Thomas Moore," which he wrote in pursuance of a promise made to the poet. ' It was during the period of Lord John Russell's Colonial Secretaryship that Edward Gibbon Wakefield's negotiations took place with the' 1 Government on behalf of the New Zealand Company. (See Dr. A. J. Harrop s The Amazing Career of Edward Gibbon ) (Compiled by A. H. REED, Dunedln.)

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