Thomas Russell, CMG,

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(27 May 1920 – 5 July 2016) was a British colonial administrator. He was

Governor of the Cayman Islands The Governor of the Cayman Islands is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of the Cayman Islands. The Governor, a civil servant who has in modern times typically been a British subject normally res ...

from 1974 to 1981. The eldest son of Colonel Thomas Russell OBE MC, Russell was educated at Gattonside School, Melrose Grammar School and

Hawick High School Hawick High School is a non-denominational secondary school in Hawick, in the Scottish Borders. As well as serving the town, it also takes in pupils from as far away as Newcastleton. History The first mention of educational provision in the a ...

, before attending the

University of St Andrews (Aien aristeuein) , motto_lang = grc , mottoeng = Ever to ExcelorEver to be the Best , established = , type = Public research university Ancient university , endowment ...

, where he graduated MA. Enlisting in the

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

in 1940, he fought in North Africa and Italy, being badly wounded and taken prisoner by the Germans in 1944. Liberated in 1945, Russell left the Army the following year and was appointed to the Colonial Administrative Service, taking a course in colonial administration at Peterhouse, Cambridge. After postings in Fiji and the

Solomon Islands Solomon Islands is an island country consisting of six major islands and over 900 smaller islands in Oceania, to the east of Papua New Guinea and north-west of Vanuatu. It has a land area of , and a population of approx. 700,000. Its capit ...

, where he was Chief Secretary, he was appointed Governor of the Cayman Islands in 1970, serving until 1981; his term was extended three times, making him the longest-serving Governor of the territory. Returning to England after his retirement, he was appointed representative of the Cayman Islands government in the United Kingdom in 1982, opening an office in London. Russell died in Scotland in 2016; he was praised by Cayman premier

Alden McLaughlin Sir Alden McNee McLaughlin Jr. (born 6 September 1961) is a Caymanian politician, former Premier of the Cayman Islands. McLaughlin previously served as leader of the People's Progressive Movement party from February 2011 – March 2021. McLa ...

as "by far one of the most respected and favoured governors".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, Thomas 1920 births 2016 deaths Alumni of the University of St Andrews Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Governors of the Cayman Islands British Army personnel of World War II British World War II prisoners of war Colonial Administrative Service officers Colony of Fiji people British Solomon Islands people Members of the Governing Council of the Solomon Islands