约翰·罗素，第一代罗素伯爵

生平

1792年，罗素出生于威斯敏斯特的赫特福德街。1813年，罗素进入国会。1835年，担任内政国务秘书。1846年，罗素出任首相。1847年，在工厂推行每日十小时的工时。1848年，在工厂推行建立公共健康委员会。1865年，第二次出任首相。

外交

法国

罗素等人并没有为1848年2月法国君主制的结束感到遗憾，他们与路易·菲利普有很多分歧，路易·菲利普自1830年革命以来一直统治着法国。帕默斯顿表示愿意随时准备承认新政权的合法性，只要它准备尊重现有条约即可。一旦获得保证，英国政府便将巴黎二月革命视为既成事实。

家庭

孙子伯特兰·罗素是著名的数学家与哲学家、于1950年获得诺贝尔文学奖。

John Russell, 1st Earl Russell (18 August 1792 – 28 May 1878), known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was a British Whig and Liberal statesman who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1852 and again from 1865 to 1866.

The third son of the 6th Duke of Bedford, Russell was educated at Westminster School and Edinburgh University before entering Parliament in 1813. In 1828 he took a leading role in the repeal of the Test Acts which discriminated against Catholics and Protestant dissenters. He was one of the principal architects of the Reform Act 1832, which was the first major reform of Parliament since the Restoration, and a significant early step on the road to democracy and away from rule by the aristocracy and landed gentry. He favoured expanding the right to vote to the middle classes and enfranchising Britain's growing industrial towns and cities, but he never advocated universal suffrage and he opposed the secret ballot. Russell was outspoken on many issues over the course of his career, advocating Catholic emancipation in the 1820s, calling for the repeal of the Corn Laws in 1845, denouncing Pope Pius IX's revival of Catholic bishoprics in 1850, and supporting Italian unification during the 1860s.

Russell's ministerial career spanned four decades. In addition to his two terms as prime minister, between 1831 and 1865 he served in the cabinets of Earl Grey, Viscount Melbourne, the Earl of Aberdeen, and Viscount Palmerston. Russell's relationship with Palmerston was often stormy and contributed to bringing down Russell's first government in 1852 and Palmerston's first government in 1858.……

Early life and education

Russell was born on 18 August 1792 into the highest echelons of the British aristocracy, being the third son of John Russell, later 6th Duke of Bedford, and Georgiana Byng, daughter of George Byng, 4th Viscount Torrington.……

Early political career: 1813–1846

Backbench MP: 1813–1830

Russell entered the House of Commons as a Whig in 1813 at the age of 20. The future reformer gained his seat by virtue of his father, the Duke of Bedford, instructing the 30 or so electors of Tavistock to return him as an MP even though at the time Russell was abroad and under age.

Minister under Grey and Melbourne: 1830–1841

When the Whigs came to power in 1830, Russell entered Earl Grey's government as Paymaster of the Forces.……

Prime minister: 1846–1852

Appointment

Russell took office as prime minister with the Whigs only a minority in the House of Commons.……

Domestic agenda

Russell's political agenda was frequently frustrated by his lack of a reliable Commons majority. However, his government was able to secure a number of notable social reforms.……

Ireland

Russell's government led the calamitous response to the Irish Famine.……

Between premierships: 1852–1865

In opposition: February–December 1852

Following Russell's resignation, on 23 February 1852 the Earl of Derby accepted the Queen's invitation to form a government. The new Conservative ministry were a minority in the Commons due to the continuing rift with the Peelites.……

The Aberdeen coalition: 1852–1855

Russell, as the leader of the Whigs, agreed to bring his party into a coalition with the Peelites, headed by Aberdeen.……

Prime Minister again: 1865–1866

When Palmerston suddenly died in late 1865, Russell again became prime minister. His second premiership was short and frustrating, and Russell failed in his great ambition of expanding the franchise, a task that would be left to his Conservative successors, Derby and Benjamin Disraeli.……

Personal life

Marriages and children

Russell married Adelaide Lister (widow of Thomas Lister, 2nd Baron Ribblesdale, who had died in 1832) on 11 April 1835. Together they had two daughters:

Lady Georgiana Adelaide Russell (1836 – 25 September 1922). She married Archibald Peel (son of General Jonathan Peel) on 15 August 1867.……

Religious views

Russell was religious in a simple non-dogmatic way and supported "broad church" stances in the Church of England.……

Legacy and reputation

Scion of one of the most powerful aristocratic families, Russell was a leading reformer who weakened the power of the aristocracy. His great achievements, wrote A. J. P. Taylor, were based on his persistent battles in Parliament over the years on behalf of the expansion of liberty;……

Literature

Original works

Russell published numerous books and essays over the course of his life, especially during periods out of office. He principally wrote on politics and history, but also turned his hand to a variety of other topics and genres. His published works include: