William Russell (writer) facts for kids
William Russell (1741–1793) was a Scottish writer. He wrote many books about history and other interesting topics.
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Russell was born in 1741 on a farm called Windydoors in Selkirkshire, Scotland. His father was Alexander Russell, a farmer, and his mother was Christian Ballantyne.
William went to school first in Innerleithen, which is in Peeblesshire. Later, he studied for ten months in Edinburgh. In 1756, when he was about 15, he started an apprenticeship. This meant he worked for a bookseller and printer to learn the trade.
Starting His Writing Career
In 1763, William became a journeyman, which is a skilled worker. He joined a group called the Miscellaneous Society. This group was made up of university students and other learners. His friends helped him with a translation of a play called Rhadamisthe and Zenobia. He tried to get a famous actor, Garrick, to perform it, but it didn't work out.
In 1765, William spent time with Patrick Murray, 5th Lord Elibank. Lord Elibank was a wealthy supporter of writers. William hoped Lord Elibank would help him succeed. Because of this hope, William decided to stop working as a printer.
Moving to London
After a short visit with his father, William Russell moved to London in 1767. He wanted to become a full-time writer. For a while, he worked as a proofreader, checking texts for mistakes. In 1769, he became a printing overseer, supervising the printing process.
However, after 1770, he mostly earned his living by writing. In 1780, he traveled to Jamaica. He went there to get money he had inherited from his brother. When he returned, he continued his writing career in London. He worked hard and became very successful.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1787, William Russell got married. He then moved to Knottyholm, a place near Langholm, Dumfriesshire. In 1792, he received a special honorary degree. St. Andrews University gave him the title of LL.D., which means Doctor of Laws. This was a big honor for his work.
William Russell passed away suddenly on December 25, 1793, from a stroke. He was buried in the churchyard of Westerkirk, near Langholm. His wife, whose maiden name was Scott, and their daughter survived him.
