Peter Russell (politician)
| Peter Russell | |
|---|---|
George Theodore Berthon's Peter Russell
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| Born |
11 June 1733 Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 30 September 1808 (aged 75) York, Upper Canada |
| Education | Cambridge - did not finish studies |
| Occupation | Military officer, government official, politician and judge of Upper Canada |
Peter Russell (11 June 1733 – 30 September 1808) was a gambler, government official, politician and judge in Upper Canada.
Born in Cork, Ireland, later living in England, Russell attended the University of Cambridge briefly. His debts forced him to enter the British Army during the Seven Years' War. He was commissioned into the 14th Foot and served in the 94th Foot and the 64th Foot.
After fleeing due to gambling debts, Russell returned to the American colonies during the Revolutionary War, seeking promotion in the military and being promoted Captain in 1781. He was appointed superintendent of the port of Charleston in 1782 before returning to England.
Again in debt, Russell came to Upper Canada in 1790 to join the administration of John Graves Simcoe serving on the Executive Council and Legislative Council. Russell was appointed to a temporary judgeship in 1794 and also became Speaker of the Legislative Council.
Simcoe requested a leave of absence in December 1795 and recommended that Russell act as administrator of Upper Canada in his absence. Russell assumed the position in July 1796 and remained administrator until 1799 when Simcoe's permanent replacement was appointed.
Russell’s administration saw the peaceful transfer of six border posts from the British to the Americans under the terms of the Jay Treaty. During his temporary appointment, Russell was at a disadvantage, however, as Simcoe had taken the vast majority of his official papers with him, leaving only 12 documents behind. This left Russell ignorant of British policy and of Simcoe's proposals for management of the province.
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Wikipedia