William Russell, Lord Russell
(1639-1683), Politician; MP for Tavistock and BedfordshireSitter associated with 29 portraits
Russell was the grandson of the disgraced Earl and Countess of Somerset, who had scandalised the Jacobean Court. He was a Whig politician, known as 'The Patriot', who defended religious nonconformity, a limited monarchy and the right of resistance. He feared that if James, then Duke of York, became king he would overturn parliamentary power with policies promoting France, Catholicism and absolutism. He supported the Exclusion Bill which attempted to remove James from the order of succession. Russell maintained his innocence of involvement in the Rye House Plot but was found guilty of treason and executed.
attributed to Thomas Flatman
watercolour on vellum, circa 1675
NPG 6278
Unknown man, formerly known as William Russell, Lord Russell
possibly after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, feigned oval, based on a work of circa 1680
NPG 202
Politicians in the reign of King Charles II
by and sold by John Savage
line engraving, late 17th century
NPG D29502
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, (circa 1680-1683)
NPG D18910
by Peter Vanderbank (Vandrebanc), after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 1683
NPG D29410
by Peter Vanderbank (Vandrebanc), after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 1683
NPG D39934
published by Edward Cooper, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, circa 1683
NPG D11976
by Peter Vanderbank (Vandrebanc), after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 1683
NPG D18703
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, early 18th century
NPG D8470
by Bernard Picart (Picard), after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, 1724
NPG D29412
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, mid to late 18th century
NPG D29416
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1739
NPG D29411
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1739
NPG D39932
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1739
NPG D39933
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1739
NPG D42905
by Charles Grignion, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1757
NPG D29413
by Thomas Cook, published by George Kearsley, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
line engraving, published 1775
NPG D29414
published by Henry Delahoy Symonds
line engraving, published 22 May 1796
NPG D39941
'Lord W. Russel's last interview with his family'
by George Noble, published by Robert Bowyer, after Robert Smirke
line engraving, published 5 October 1796
NPG D5858
William Russell, Lord Russell taking leave of Lady Russell & Children on the day of his Execution
by Charles Knight, published by J. Deeley, after Thomas Stothard
hand-coloured stipple engraving, published 1 March 1809
NPG D39936
by Henry Bone, after Unknown artist
pen and ink, 1811
NPG D17675
by Edward Scriven, published by Lackington, Allen & Co, published by Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme & Brown, after Robert William Satchwell, after Sir Peter Lely
stipple engraving, published 20 July 1816
NPG D39935
by James Fittler, after John Riley
line engraving, published 1819
NPG D5857
by Henry Bone, after Unknown artist
pencil drawing squared in ink for transfer, April 1822
NPG D17213
after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
stipple engraving, published 1825
NPG D29415
The Trial of William Russell, Lord Russell 1683
by Sir George Hayter
etching, 1825
NPG D39937
Key to The Trial of William Russell, Lord Russell 1683
after Sir George Hayter
etching, (1825)
NPG D39938
after Sir George Hayter
etching, (1825)
NPG D39939
published by Edward Cooper, after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
mezzotint, circa 1683
NPG D19931
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.