RUSSELL, GEORGE WARREN (1854-1937) was born in London and came to Tasmania with his parents. He was educated privately and at the Launceston Grammar School. He served his apprenticeship in the Evening Post office in Wellington and after spending three years as a probationer for the Wesleyan ministry, he definitely turned to journalism. In 1878 he accepted a position as sub-editor of the Wellington Chronicle, from which he retired the same year to establish the Manawatu Herald (Foxton). While there he contested the Foxton seat in Parliament (1881), being defeated by J. G. Wilson and C. B. Izard. Russell became part owner of the Manawatu Times, and a few years later he took over the Waikato Times. While in Hamilton he again contested a seat in Parliament, being defeated for Waikato by J. B. Whyte by 677 to 522 (1887).

Russell removed to Christchurch, and there contributed for a time to the Lyttelton Times and founded the printing firm of Russell and Willis, which in 1889 established the Spectator. He contested the Heathcote seat as a Liberal in 1890, but withdrew in favour of Tanner, the Conservative candidate being R. H. Rhodes. In 1893 he defeated W. Boag for the Riccarton seat, but in 1896 was defeated by Rolleston by 381 votes. In 1899 he regained the seat by one vote. A keen, incisive speaker and debater, his growing independence dissatisfied the party, and he was opposed in 1902 by Witty, who defeated him by 285 votes, and again in 1905. In 1908 he stood against Tanner for Avon and won on the second ballot by 542 votes. In 1911 he retained his seat against three other candidates, including J. McCombs. Russell accepted office as Minister of Health and Internal Affairs in the short-lived Mackenzie Government (1912). During the absence of Sir Joseph Ward in 1912-13 he was acting-leader of the Liberal party. In 1915 he joined the National Government as Minister of Internal Affairs and Health, and later also of Marine and Customs. During this time he was president of the national war funds council and had full control of sick and wounded soldiers from the war, for whom he created hospitals at Rotorua and Hanmer. At the general election in 1919 Russell was defeated for Avon by Sullivan, who retained the seat against him in 1922. Apart from politics, he did valuable service on the North Canterbury education board, the Canterbury College governors (of which he was chairman) and the Lyttelton harbour board. He published A New Heaven (1919) and The Duties of Life (1920).

Russell married in 1879 Charlotte (d. 1924), daughter of G. M. Park. He died on 28 Jun 1937.

N.Z.P.D., pass; Who's Who N.Z., 1908, 1924, 1932; Evening Post and Star-Sun, 28 Jun 1937; The Dominion, 28 Jun (p).

Reference: Volume 2, page 135

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