He fought as a
private in the
American Revolutionary War. He was County Treasurer, first of Charlotte County, then of Washington County, for about forty years. Russell was a member of the
New York State Assembly (
Charlotte Co.) in
1777–78; and a member of the
New York State Senate (Eastern D.) from 1778 to 1782, sitting in the
2nd,
3rd,
4th and
5th New York State Legislatures. He was a member of the
Council of Appointment in 1778–79 and 1780–81. He was again a member of the State Assembly in
1784. During this term, the Legislature changed the name of Charlotte County to
Washington County. He was again a member of the State Senate from 1784 to 1788, sitting in the
8th,
9th,
10th and
11th New York State Legislatures. He was again a member of the Council of Appointment in 1784–85 and 1787. On November 12, 1784, he was appointed, and on April 13, 1787, re-appointed as a Regent of the
University of the State of New York. He was First Judge of the Washington County Court from 1788 to 1800. In
December 1794, he ran on the Federalist ticket for Congress in the
Saratoga–Washington district, but was defeated by Democratic-Republican
John Williams. When the first political parties were formed, Russell joined the
Federalist Party. He was again a member of the State Senate from 1796 to 1803, sitting in the
19th,
20th,
21st,
22nd,
23rd,
24th,
25th and
26th New York State Legislatures; and was again a member of the Council of Appointment in 1796. He was again a member of the State Assembly in
1812–13. In 1813, he resigned from the Board of Regents of USNY. ==Personal life==