Sir Ronald Stanley RussellFRSA (29 May 1904 – 6 April 1974) was aBritish journalist, author andConservative politician.[1]
Russell was born on 29 May 1904, the son of J Stanley Russell ofSeahouses,Northumberland. He was educated atHaileybury and Imperial Service College andGonville and Caius College, Cambridge.[1] He began a career in journalism in 1929 at theNewcastle Chronicle, moving toReuters in 1931.[1][2]
In 1935, he became alecturer on the economics of the coal industry.[1] During theSecond World War he served as an officer in theRoyal Artillery and as a staff officer.[1]
At the1935 general election he unsuccessfully contested the Glasgow constituency ofShettleston.[1] At the1945 general election Russell stood for parliament atCoatbridge, again without success.[1] In the following year he was elected to theLondon County Council to representNorwood.[1][3]
He became aMember of Parliament on his third attempt in1950, winning the seat ofWembley South.[4] He held the seat until the constituency was abolished by boundary changes at theFebruary 1974 general election. He acted asPrivate Parliamentary Secretary toDuncan Sandys,Minister of Supply, from 1951 to 1955.[1][2]
The honorary secretary of the Animal Welfare Group, he piloted thePet Animals Act 1951 through parliament.[2] He also put pressure on theBoard of Trade to ban the importation oftortoises as pets and promoted a private members bill to stop live cattle, sheep and pigs being exported for slaughter.[2]
Russell died, aged 69, less than two months after the election.[2][4]
In 1933, Russell married Ena Glendenning Forrester ofMiddlesbrough, and they had two children,[1][2] Ronald Charles and Jillian Margaret.
Russell was aFellow of the Royal Society of Arts.[1] As part of the 1964New Year Honours, he wasknighted "for political and public services".[5]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forWembley South 1950 –Feb 1974 | Succeeded by Constituency abolished |