F. A. A. Russell Explained

Francis Alfred Allison Russell KC (1868 – 30 October 1938) was a barrister in Sydney, Australia.

History

Russell was born in Brighton, Victoria, the eldest son of George Alfred Russell (c. 1839 – 6 December 1926) and his wife Louisa Gertrude Russell, née Robey (c. 1847 – 29 March 1918), daughter of R. M. Robey. Russell and Robey married at Valparaiso, Chile, around 1866.

After graduating B.A. from the University of Sydney he was appointed assistant master, Sydney Grammar School.^[1]

He was called to the bar on 5 May 1897^[2] and specialized in Australian banking law, in which he was recognised as an authority.^[3]

He was appointed King's Counsel in 1927^[3] and served as acting District Court judge from 1928.^[4] He was chairman of several wages boards^[5] and of the Building Trades Group.^[6]

He was deputy dean of St Paul's College, Sydney and chancellor of the diocese of Goulburn.

Other interests

He was a competitive golfer, a leading member of the Hunter's Hill Golf Club.^[7]

He was a director of Sydney's Daily Telegraph.^[8]

He was one of five candidates put forward by the Soldiers and Citizens Party for the multi-member seat of Ryde in the NSW state elections of March 1920,^[9] polling rather poorly.^[10]

Family

Russell was twice married; first on 18 April 1899 to Julia "Dollie" Bowie Wilson,^[11] who died on 24 March 1900.^[12] Julia was a daughter of John Bowie Wilson. He married again, to Lilian Adela Maude Sophia Salter (1873–1956), on 7 October 1903,^[13] and lived at "Brackendale", Karnah-road, Turramurra, followed by Hunter's Hill, later "Holmwood", Shirley Road, Wollstonecraft. Their children include:

• Patience Allison Russell, known as Pattie,^[14] (14 December 1904^[15] – 18 September 1961) married Ian Ross Campbell (23 March 1900 – 31 October 1997) at St James' Church, Sydney, on 26 April 1927^[16] They had a daughter Gillian^[17] on 22 April 1928.^[18] According to a Times obituary, this marriage was dissolved after two years,^[19] and in 1967 Ian Campbell married Irene Cardamatis, who died in 1996.
• Audrey Innes Russell, born at Hunters Hill on 8 October 1906,^[20] was a popular socialite. During WWII she was ranked Flying Officer with WAAAF at No. 5 Operational Training Unit RAAF Station, Williamtown, New South Wales.^[21]
• Elsa Mary Lillian Russell (18 January 1909^[22] – 1997) was born at Hunters Hill. She was, like her mother, a painter,^[23] served with the WAAAF at No. 5 Service Flying Training School RAAF, Uranquinty during WWII, and is remembered for her work as an unofficial war artist.^[24]
• Sybil Marguerite Russell, born July 1911, was engaged to Peter Nicholas Maine Perry (1912–2002), but remained single. She and sister Audrey were popular socialites.

He died at Bowral, New South Wales, and his remains were cremated following a service at St Thomas' Anglican Church, North Sydney, conducted by Canon Baker, assisted by Canon Garnsey, Warden of St Paul's College.^[25]

Bibliography

He was author of:

• Book: Tennyson's Gareth and Lynette . F. A. A. Russell . 1897.
• Book: The Law Relating to Banker and Customer in Australia . F. A. A. Russell . 1907.
• Book: Industrial Arbitration in New South Wales . F. A. A. Russell . 1915.
• Book: Australian Industrial Problems . F. A. A. Russell . 1918. cited by Allan Charles Rocher, MP.^[26]
• Book: Essays and Excursions in Law . F. A. A. Russell . 1929.
• Book: Monetary Policy and the Slump of 1930: Keys of Exit . F. A. A. Russell . 1930.
• Book: History of the Gold Standard and Its Result . F. A. A. Russell . 1931 . 36 . F. H. Booth & Son.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Speech Day Report 1984 . Sydney Grammar School . 22 July 2022.
2. News: Admission of a Barrister. . . 9282 . New South Wales, Australia . 5 March 1897 . 27 July 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
3. News: New K.C. . . 5250 . New South Wales, Australia . 5 September 1927 . 27 July 2022 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
4. News: Acting Judge . . 28,327 . New South Wales, Australia . 18 October 1928 . 27 July 2022 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
5. Web site: Operative Plumbers’ Society of N.S.W. . Australian Society for the Study of Labour History . 22 July 2022.
6. News: The Master Builder . . 11 . 232 . New South Wales, Australia . 22 July 1912 . 27 July 2022 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
7. News: Hunter's Hill G.C. . . 19,836 . New South Wales, Australia . 8 October 1901 . 19 July 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
8. News: Not the Barrister . . 4451 . New South Wales, Australia . 7 February 1925 . 19 July 2022 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
9. News: State Elections . . 8 . 1414 . New South Wales, Australia . 1 March 1920 . 19 July 2022 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
10. News: The Polling . . XVI . 4900 . New South Wales, Australia . 22 March 1920 . 27 July 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
11. News: Family Notices . . 6208 . New South Wales, Australia . 6 May 1899 . 27 July 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
12. News: Family Notices . . 16,765 . Victoria, Australia . 31 March 1900 . 22 July 2022 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
13. News: Family Notices . . 7604 . New South Wales, Australia . 21 October 1903 . 19 July 2022 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
14. News: Society and the Home . . 13,746 . New South Wales, Australia . 29 December 1923 . 20 July 2022 . 13 . National Library of Australia.
15. News: Family Notices . . 5264 . New South Wales, Australia . 28 December 1904 . 19 July 2022 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
16. News: Family Notices . . 14,804 . New South Wales, Australia . 21 May 1927 . 22 July 2022 . 47 . National Library of Australia.
17. News: The Letters of Letty . . 3650 . Victoria, Australia . 21 April 1938 . 18 July 2022 . 14 . National Library of Australia.
18. News: Family Notices . . 15,097 . New South Wales, Australia . 30 April 1928 . 23 July 2022 . 23 . National Library of Australia.
19. News: The Times . Major-General Ian Campbell . 28 November 1997 . 22 July 2022.
20. News: Family Notices . . 21,406 . New South Wales, Australia . 13 October 1906 . 19 July 2022 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
21. Web site: Portrait of Audrey I. Russell, WAAAF . Australian War Museum . 22 July 2022.
22. News: Family Notices . . 22,156 . New South Wales, Australia . 19 January 1909 . 19 July 2022 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
23. News: Miss Elsa Russell . . 188 . New South Wales, Australia . 31 August 1952 . 20 July 2022 . 19 . National Library of Australia.
24. Book: An artist in the WAAAF: Elsa Russell's war . 2002 . Hecate . Furby, Paula . Sheridan, Susan . 22 July 2022. An extended summary of the biography
25. News: Mr F. A. A. Russell, K.C. . . 28,766 . Victoria, Australia . 2 November 1938 . 19 July 2022 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
26. Web site: Australia Hansard . 17 September 1987 . 22 July 2022.