William Fiero Russell (January 14, 1812 – April 29, 1896) was an American banker who served one term as a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from New York from 1857 to 1859.

Biography

He was born in

Saugerties, New York Saugerties () is a town in the northeastern corner of Ulster County, New York. The population was 19,038 at the time of the 2020 Census, a decline from 19,482 in 2010. The village of the same name is located entirely within the town. Part ...

on January 14, 1812, to

Jeremiah Russell Jeremiah Russell (January 26, 1786 – September 30, 1867) was an American businessman and banker who served one term as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1843 to 1845. Biography Born in Saugerties, New York, Russell received limited sc ...

. He completed preparatory studies, and then became active in several businesses, often ventures in which his father also had an interest. He was the founder and president of the Saugerties Bank. He served as postmaster of Saugerties from October 19, 1836, to January 25, 1841. Russell was a member of the

New York State Assembly The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature, with the New York State Senate being the upper house. There are 150 seats in the Assembly. Assembly members serve two-year terms without term limits. The Assem ...

(Ulster Co., 1st D.) in 1851.

Congress

Russell was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

to the

35th United States Congress The 35th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1857, ...

, holding office from March 4, 1857, to March 3, 1859.

Later career

He was appointed as Naval Officer of the Port of New York City in 1859, and he served until 1861. (U.S. ports were run by three political appointees—the collector, naval officer (or navy agent) and surveyor. These individuals were responsible for assessing customs duties on incoming cargo and ensuring payment to the Department of the Treasury. Because they were paid a percentage of duties collected as well as a portion of the fines levied for attempting to evade customs, and because employees of the customs houses were political party loyalists who were expected to contribute to their party, the collector, naval officer and surveyor positions were sought after political plums.) After leaving the Naval Officer's post Russell returned to his banking business.

Death and burial

He died in

on April 29, 1896. He was interred in Mountain View Cemetery.

Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, William Fiero 1812 births 1896 deaths Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly People from Saugerties, New York Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) 19th-century American politicians