William A. Russell (after 1820 – before 1897) was an American politician from

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. He was the son of Congressman

David Abel Russell David Abel Russell (1780 – November 24, 1861) was a U.S. Representative from New York. He was born in Petersburg, New York and trained as a lawyer and practiced in Salem, New York. He was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1807. He was Distr ...

and Alida (Lansing) Russell. He was Sheriff of Washington County from 1850 to 1852. He was an Inspector of State Prisons from 1856 to 1858, elected on the

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

ticket in

1855 Events January–March * January 1 – Ottawa, Ontario, is incorporated as a city. * January 5 – Ramón Castilla begins his third term as President of Peru. * January 23 ** The first bridge over the Mississippi River opens ...

but defeated for re-election in

1858 Events January–March * January – **Benito Juárez (1806–1872) becomes Liberal President of Mexico. At the same time, conservatives install Félix María Zuloaga (1813–1898) as president. **William I of Prussia becomes regent f ...

. Union General

David Allen Russell David Allen Russell (December 10, 1820 – September 19, 1864) was a career United States Army officer who served in the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. He was killed in action as a brigadier general in the Union Army. Early l ...

was his brother.

Sources

''DEATH LIST OF A DAY''
in NYT on May 25, 1897, his son's (also named William A. Russell) obit
''Harper's Magazine''
telling an anecdote of Russell's trip south to take up his duties at the State Prison
''The New York Civil List''
compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (pages 46 and 409; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858) Year of death missing Place of birth missing Place of death missing People from Washington County, New York New York State Prison Inspectors New York (state) sheriffs New York (state) Know Nothings 19th-century American politicians Year of birth uncertain {{NewYork-politician-stub