Known as a lover of "constitutional liberty" - i.e. He was a prominent Whig of his time
Tried and found guilty of high treason - railroaded because he was concerned that Charles' brother James, a catholic, would succeed to the throne and require that England revert to Catholicism once again.
Sentence was commuted to beheading. There is a plaque in his memory near the place where he was beheaded.
Pardoned posthumously by William of Orange, who overthrew James II and was crowned King of England. William of Orange passed a bill of rights and outlawed absolute monarchy.
↑ "Celia Imrie." Who Do You Think You Are? (Series 9, Episode 8). BBC One. 10 Oct 2012.
Lois G. Schwoerer, ‘Russell, William, Lord Russell [called the Patriot, the Martyr] (1639–1683)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2009 accessed 12 Oct 2017
Bridgman, Thomas. The Pilgrims of Boston and their descendants: with an introduction by Hon. Edward Everett, LL. D.; also, inscriptions from the monuments in the Granary burial ground Tremont street. Boston: Appleton, 1856. Page 245. Google Books