# Lord John Russell — Queen Victoria character guide

> Lord John Russell in Queen Victoria by Lytton Strachey.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Lord John

**First appearance:** 0013-iii-lord-melbourne

## Snapshot

The Whig orator who hailed the young Queen as an Elizabeth without tyranny, then watched her little mouth betray something less tractable.

## Who they are

Russell gives voice to the nation's rapture at Victoria's accession, praying for abolition, education, and enlightened loyalty under a radiant girl-queen. His elaborate oration captures the optimism of 1837, the sense that the nasty old uncles have vanished and spring has come. But his hopes sit uneasily beside the new Queen's decisive first acts, and his career will test how far a reforming minister can steer a sovereign who means to steer herself.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/i)

Gave an elaborate oration expressing general sentiment about the new queen.

### [The Victorian Age in Full Swing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/vi)

Becomes Prime Minister and leader of the Whigs, bypassing Lord Melbourne.

### [V: Lord Palmerston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/v-lord-palmerston)

Prime Minister during Palmerston's third term as Foreign Secretary; later pronounces Palmerston 'too old to do much in the future' before Palmerston becomes Prime Minister.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/i)

Noted as Prime Minister during Palmerston's third term as Foreign Secretary.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/ii)

Prime Minister who, after Palmerston's unauthorized approval of the French coup d'état, dismisses him from office.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iii)

Prime Minister who accepted Stockmar's memorandum and justified Palmerston's dismissal in the House of Commons, implicitly supporting the Crown's expanded role.

### [Last Years of Prince Consort](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/vi-last-years-of-prince-consort)

Lord John Russell's severe diplomatic despatch during the American Civil War is softened by Albert's final memorandum, averting war.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/iv)

As Foreign Secretary, Lord John bears the brunt of royal displeasure over Italian policy, supported by Palmerston.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/ii)

Cabinet member who warns Victoria she must see her Ministers; later involved in the Schleswig-Holstein dispute.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned as dwindling into senility, part of the changing political scene.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters/lord_john_russell
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/queen_victoria_se/characters