Jonathan Russell facts for kids

Jonathan Russell (born February 27, 1771 – died February 17, 1832) was an important American diplomat and politician. He served as a U.S. Representative for Massachusetts from 1821 to 1823. He was also the very first person to lead the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Early Life and Education

Jonathan Russell was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on February 27, 1771. His parents were Jonathan and Abigail Russell. He went to local schools and later attended Rhode Island College, which is now known as Brown University.

He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts, in 1791. He then received a Master of Arts degree in 1794. After college, he studied law, which means he learned about legal rules and systems. He was allowed to practice law, but he chose not to.

Instead, Russell went into business. He worked with Otis Ammidon, importing goods from Europe to sell in America. In 1801, he was given a job as the U.S. Collector of Customs for the Port of Bristol. This meant he collected taxes on goods coming into the port.

A Career in Diplomacy

Jonathan Russell had a significant career working for the U.S. government in other countries.

Serving as a Diplomat Abroad

In 1811, President James Madison appointed Russell as a Chargé d'Affaires in Paris. This is a diplomat who acts as the head of an embassy when the main ambassador is away. Russell served as the acting Minister to France.

Soon after, he moved to England. He was still a Chargé d'Affaires there when the War of 1812 started between the United States and Great Britain. From 1814 to 1818, he served as the U.S. Minister to Sweden and Norway.

Negotiating the Treaty of Ghent

One of Russell's most important roles was being one of five people who negotiated the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. This treaty officially ended the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain.

In 1817, Brown University honored him with a special degree called a Doctor of Laws (LL.D.). He returned to the United States in 1818 and settled in Mendon, Massachusetts.

Becoming a State Representative

In 1820, Jonathan Russell became a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He also served as a delegate to the state's constitutional convention that same year.

Serving in Congress

In November 1820, Russell was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He served in the Seventeenth Congress from March 4, 1821, to March 3, 1823. During this time, he made history as the first person to chair the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs. This committee deals with how the U.S. interacts with other countries.

Disagreement with John Quincy Adams

In 1822, Jonathan Russell wrote a pamphlet, which is like a small book, about John Quincy Adams. Adams was another diplomat who had worked with Russell on the Treaty of Ghent. Russell claimed that Adams had favored British interests during the treaty talks.

Russell wrote this pamphlet to help Henry Clay become president instead of Adams in the 1824 election. Adams responded with his own writings, which strongly showed that Russell's claims were not true. Adams's responses were so powerful that they greatly damaged Russell's reputation.

The Lafayette Incident

In 1824 and 1825, the Marquis de Lafayette, a French hero of the American Revolution, visited the United States. Russell had known Lafayette since 1811 and planned a big celebration for him at his home in Mendon.

However, John Quincy Adams, who was then the United States Secretary of State and a friend of Lafayette, changed Lafayette's travel plans. Without telling Russell, Adams arranged for Lafayette to skip Mendon and go straight to Providence. This was another public embarrassment for Russell.

Later Life and Family

Jonathan Russell passed away in Milton, Massachusetts, on February 17, 1832. He was buried in his family's plot on his estate in Milton.

Family Life

In 1796, Russell married Sylvia Ammidon (1773–1811) from Mendon. After Sylvia passed away, he married Lydia Smith (1786–1859) in 1817. Jonathan Russell had eight children in total, four with each wife:

• Amelia
• George
• Caroline
• Anna
• Ida
• Geraldine
• Rosalie
• Jonathan