John H. Russell, Jr.

John H. Russell Jr.
16th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1934-1936)
Birth name	John Henry Russell Jr.
Born	(1872-11-14)November 14, 1872 Mare Island, California, U.S.
Died	March 6, 1947(1947-03-06) (aged 74) Coronado, California, U.S.
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1892–1894 (U.S. Navy) 1894–1936 (U.S. Marine Corps)
Rank	Major General
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War Banana Wars
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Navy Cross
Other work	Military journalist

John Henry Russell Jr. (November 14, 1872 – March 6, 1947) was a major general and 16th Commandant of the Marine Corps. His only child was Brooke Astor, a noted philanthropist.

Russell was born on November 14, 1872 in Mare Island, California, the son of Rear Admiral John Henry Russell (1827–1897). He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy by President Grover Cleveland in May 1888 and graduated from the Academy in June 1892 and after two years at sea. He passed his final examinations and was transferred to the Marine Corps as a second lieutenant on July 1, 1894.

Upon appointment as an officer in the Marine Corps, he attended the School of Application at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., graduating in 1895. He was retained for another year at the School to conduct a class for noncommissioned officers.

In 1896, he joined USS Massachusetts, North Atlantic Squadron, serving on board until after the Spanish–American War. The Commanding Officer of the vessel addressed a letter to the Secretary of the Navy commenting favorably on the conduct and performance of duty of John H. Russell in action and recommending recognition thereof by the Navy Department.

He next performed duty on Guam and upon his return to the United States was placed in charge of the School of Application for Officers at the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. Following this tour of duty, and also duty at several navy yards, he was ordered to command the Marine Detachment, USS Oregon, remaining on board from September 1902 to March 1904. His next shore duty was in command of the school for young officers established at the Marine Barracks, Annapolis, Maryland. In 1906, he was transferred to the Marine Barracks, Naval Station, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii. From that duty he was ordered to Camp Elliott, Panama Canal Zone, to command the Marines at that station.