Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Russel, George
RUSSEL, GEORGE (1728–1767), poet, son of Christopher Russel of Minorca, was born in that island in 1728. His father, who was born in 1670 and died at Ciuderdale in Minorca in 1729, was a distinguished officer of the 19th regiment of foot, who had served in Flanders and in the wars of Queen Anne. George Russel is said to have been educated at Westminster School. He matriculated from St. Mary Hall, Oxford, on 28 May 1746. In 1750 he graduated B.A. Through the influence of John Boyle, fifth earl of Cork and Orrery [q. v.], with whose son, Hamilton Boyle, he was on familiar terms, he obtained the rectory of Skull (now called Schull), co. Cork, in 1753. There he died in 1767. Russel wrote much verse from 1744 until his death in 1767. In 1769 his remains were published in two volumes in Cork, under the title of ‘The Works of the Rev. George Russel, Rector of Skull, in the Diocese of Cork.’ Among Russel's poems is the popular fable called ‘The Chameleon,’ which is generally attributed to James Merrick [q. v.] Russel's verse is neatly turned and sometimes witty.
[Malone's Prose Works of Dryden, i. 508–10; Chalmers's Biogr. Dict.; O'Donoghue's Poets of Ireland; Gent. Mag.; Foster's Alumni Oxon.]