- For the M.P. murdered in 1840, see Lord William Russell.
William Russell, Baron Russell (29 September 1639 – 21 July 1683), was an
English politician. He was a leading member of the
Country Party, forerunners of the
Whigs, who laid the groundwork opposition in the
House of Commons of England to the concept of a reign of an openly
Catholic King (
James II) during the reign of
King Charles II but ultimately resulted in his execution for treason, almost two years before King Charles died and James acceded to the throne.