John Henry Russell

Rear Admiral John Henry Russell (4 July 1827 – 1 April 1897) was an officer of the United States Navy during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.

Russell was born at Frederick, Maryland on 4 July 1827 to Sir James Henry Russell and Martha Wilson Russell. He was appointed midshipman 10 September 1841 and served in the sloop of war "Cyane" in the Pacific until 1843. He returned in the frigate "United States" in 1844 and served in "St. Mary's" in the Gulf of Mexico from 1844 to 1846. He participated in operations at Galveston, Corpus Christi, Brazos, Resaca, and Vera Cruz.

After duty in
"Allegheny" in 1847, he graduated at the United States Naval Academy in 1848. Briefly assigned to coast survey duty, he made a cruise to Brazil in 1849, then served on the New York-West Indies mail line from 1853 to 1856, and served as navigator in "Vincennes" during explorations of the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans. Assigned to the Mediterranean Squadron at the end of the decade, he returned to the United States and ordnance duty at the Washington Navy Yard just prior to the outbreak of the American Civil War.

In April 1861, he assisted in preventing ships at Norfolk from falling to the enemy; and, in September, he led a boat expedition into Pensacola Harbor to destroy the Confederate privateer "Judah". He next assumed command of "Kennebec" and in that gunboat participated in operations on the Mississippi River up to Vicksburg and served in the blockade of Mobile. Commanding "Pontiac" in 1863, he returned to ordnance duty at Washington in 1864 and to the Pacific Squadron to serve as commanding officer of "Cyane" in 1864–65.

Various duties, afloat and ashore, on both coasts, Atlantic and Pacific, followed, and he completed his last assignment, 3 years as Commandant Mare Island Navy Yard, in 1886. Appointed rear admiral 4 March 1886, he retired on 27 August, and resided in Washington, D.C. until his death 1 April 1897.

In 1938, the destroyer USS "Russell" (DD-414) was named in his honor. USS "Russell" (DDG-59) was named for him and his son, Major General John Henry Russell, Jr.

His granddaughter was Brooke Astor, a noted philanthropist.

References