The Russell family is an American family from Georgia that has held prominent positions both in the United States government and the Georgia government. The family was a wealthy land-owning family until the end of the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

, when they lost a large amount of their assets, like many others in the southern plantation class. The family later entered politics and rebuilt their family's prominence through holding political office.

Richard Russell Sr. Richard Brevard Russell Sr. (April 27, 1861 – December 3, 1938) was an American lawyer, legislator, jurist, and candidate for political office. He is the patriarch of the Russell Family of Georgia, a notable 20th century Georgia political fami ...

(1861–1938) served in various political and judicial offices including Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court. Two of his sons followed him into political and judicial office:

Richard Russell Jr. Richard Brevard Russell Jr. (November 2, 1897 – January 21, 1971) was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 66th Governor of Georgia from 1931 to 1933 before serving in the United States Senate for alm ...

(1897-1971) served as Speaker of the

Georgia House of Representatives The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly (the state legislature) of the U.S. state of Georgia. There are currently 180 elected members. Republicans have had a majority in the chamber since 2005. ...

, Governor of Georgia, and United States Senator.

Robert Lee Russell Robert Lee Russell (August 19, 1900 – January 18, 1955) was a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and previously was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the ...

(1900–1955) was a lawyer and served as a Judge on the U.S. District Court, and later as a Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals. Richard Russell, Jr.'s nephew, Walter B. Russell Jr., served fifteen years in the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

followed by six years in the Georgia House of Representatives. Russell family in-laws:

Ernest Vandiver Samuel Ernest Vandiver Jr. (July 3, 1918 – February 21, 2005) was an American politician who was the 73rd Governor of the U.S. state of Georgia from 1959 to 1963. Early life and career Vandiver was born in Canon in Franklin County in northe ...

(1918-2005) served as the Governor of Georgia. He was the husband of Betty Russell, a granddaughter of Richard Russell, Sr., a niece of Richard Russell, Jr. and the daughter of Robert Lee Russell.

Hugh Peterson Hugh Peterson (August 21, 1898 – October 3, 1961) was a U.S. political figure and lawyer from the state of Georgia. Life Peterson was born near Ailey, Georgia in 1898 and attended the Brewton–Parker Institute in Mount Vernon, Georgia ...

(1898–1961) was a lawyer and served in the U.S. House of Representatives (1935-1947). He was the husband of Patience Elizabeth Russell, a daughter of Richard B. Russell, Sr.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell Family (American Political Family) Political families of the United States American families Families from Georgia (U.S. state)