Russell was born in Edinburgh in 1715, the son of lawyer John Russell. He was the half-brother of
Patrick Russell[2] He was educated at the
University of Edinburgh, and after graduating with an
MD, went to
London in about 1734.
Aleppo
Russell sailed to
Aleppo in 1740, having been appointed physician to the English factory there. He became the city's chief medical practitioner, through gaining the confidence of the local
pasha. In 1754 he returned to England and two years later published his The Natural History of Aleppo, with a diary of the progress of the plague in 1742–1744.[3] He was elected a
Fellow of the Royal Society in 1756.[4]
St Thomas's Hospital, London
In 1759 he was elected to fill a vacancy at
St Thomas' Hospital in London. He remained in that role until his death on 25 November 1768.
Publications
Russell's written works include:
Testamen Medicum et Medicastrorum audacitate. Edin. 1709, 8vo.
The Natural History of Aleppo. Lond. 1756, 4to. 2d edition revised, enlarged, and illustrated with Notes, by his brother, Patrick Russell, M.D. Lond. 1794, 2 vols. 4to. This valuable history has been translated into different European languages.
Of a remarkable Marine Production. Phil. Trans. 1762, Abr. xi. 635. Vorticella Ovifera Lin.
Letter describing the Scammony Plant. Med. Obs. And Inq. i. p. 12, 1755.
Account of two Paralytic Cases. Ib. p. 296.
Cases of Lues Venerea cured by a solution of Corrosive Sublimate. Ib. ii. p. 88.
Of several Hydatids discharged with the Urine. Ib. iii. p. 146. 1767.
Experiments made with the Decoction of Mezereon in Venereal Nodes. Ib. p. 189.