# Mr. Russell — Two Years Before the Mast character guide

> Mr. Russell in Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana Jr..

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Russell

**First appearance:** 0003-i

## Snapshot

The Pilgrim's second mate, once styled Don Tomàs and Capitán de la playa ashore, later reduced to begging bread from Kanakas and sailors.

## Who they are

Russell's arc from petty California grandee to mud-caked fugitive is one of the book's sharpest reversals, a lesson in how quickly authority dissolves on a lawless coast. Dana encounters him twice — first as the imperious 'Maestro de la casa,' then as a desperate man who has neither eaten nor slept in three days. His fall shadows the crew's own precarious standing between ship's discipline and shore's anarchy.

## In the story

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_years_before_the_mast_se/chapters/vii)

The mate who identifies the sound of the 'Alerta' as Spanish soldiers guarding convicts.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_years_before_the_mast_se/chapters/viii)

Not directly mentioned in this chapter, but the narrator's friend S⸺ is likely Mr. Russell; however, no explicit mention.

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_years_before_the_mast_se/chapters/xi)

The second mate who helps arrange for the narrator to send down the royal yard in port.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_years_before_the_mast_se/chapters/xv)

Assists the mate in securing John for flogging.

### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_years_before_the_mast_se/chapters/xix)

Former officer of the Pilgrim, now in charge of the hide house, living alone in a room above the narrator's quarters.

### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_years_before_the_mast_se/chapters/xxvi)

The third mate leads the wood-loading party to Wood Island, staying on the launch while others wade to load wood.

### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_years_before_the_mast_se/chapters/xxxv)

The mate is described as competitive and determined not to be beaten in carrying sail.

### [Twenty-Four Years After](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_years_before_the_mast_se/chapters/twenty-four-years-after)

Mentioned as one of the officers of the Alert who praised the crew; long ago a shipmaster.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_years_before_the_mast_se/characters/mr_russell
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_years_before_the_mast_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/two_years_before_the_mast_se/characters