Alexander (Russell) West Russell MP (1879 - 1961)

Born 1879 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Died 22 Apr 1961 at about age 82 in United Kingdom

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Biography

Alexander (Russell) West Russell MP was born in Scotland.

Alexander was born in 1879 in Paisley, Renfrewshire. He may have been the son of engine fitter John Russell and his wife WIlhelmina.^[1] An alternative possibility is Thomas Russell and Isabella Aitcheson.^[2]

He appears to have still been in Paisley at the time of the 1901 census.

By 1911 he appears to have been living in Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne.^[3]

He reportedly worked as a lawyer before his Parliamentary career.

He married Agnes B Sturrock in 1914 in Hillhead, Lanarkshire.^[4]

By 1921 he was living in Whitley and Monkseaton, Tynemouth district^[5] His wife was not with him.^[6]

A son David Sturrock West Russell, who would later use the double-barrelled surname West-Russell was born in 1921.^[7] He would go on to be a lawyer and industrial tribunals chairman. Lois Bunten West-Russell and Marian West-Russell were also named in Alexander's death notice.

Alexander was elected to Parliament in the constituency of Tynemouth for the Conservative Party in 1922. This is the first occurrence in the record of Alexander using the middle name (or additional surname) West.

His wife probably passed away in 1930 in London. An Agnes's death (age 45) was registered in 1930 in London, England.^[8]

He was knighted on 12 June 1937.^[9]

He served as Member of Parliament for Tynemouth until 1945 when he lost his seat in the Labour landslide to Grace Colman.

He passed away in 1961 in London. Alexander's death (age 81) was registered in 1961 in London, England.^[10][11]

A notice of his death was posted in the Gazette.^[12]

His son David passed away in 2004.^[13][14]

Research Notes

Still some digging needed on this person to connect him to the Big Tree. Parentage uncertain, and the mystery of the middle name/2nd surname "West" has me stumped. Best guess, some landed relative of his wife ran out of heirs and bequeathed to Agnes/Alexander on condition they take the surname.

Sources

1. ↑ Scotlandspeople search: only result for 1- or 2-year old Alexander Russell in 1881 - location East Greenock, Renfrewshire
2. ↑ There is a marriage record for that couple and a birth record for an Alexander in 1879 with mother's name Aitcheson. In the 1881 census, there is no Thomas and Isabella Russell in Renfrewshire but there is a Thomas and Mary with a 3-year old son Alexander.
3. ↑ FindMyPast search - only two Alexander Russells the right age from Paisley, the other was in Weston Super Mare. No likely hits on Scotlandspeople search).
4. ↑ Scotlandspeople has a record of the marriage. As well as some sketchy evidence from data compiling sites connecting the two names, son David's middle name was Sturrock.
5. ↑ As he stood for election in Tynemouth the following year it is reasonable to assume this is the correct Alexander. This is the main reason why his birth location is believed to be Paisley, Renfrewshire. That, and the lack of any vital records on Familysearch, which does not cover Scotland so comprehensively.
6. ↑ No Agnes Russell the right age in the parish, and so far as I can see, in the region.
7. ↑ Birth Registration: "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008"
   citing Birth Registration, Marylebone, London, England, citing General Register Office, Southport, England
   FamilySearch Record: QV34-9VB5 (accessed 1 December 2023)
   David S W Russell birth registered Jul-Aug-Sep 1921 in Marylebone, child of Sturrock.
8. ↑ Death Registration: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007"
   citing UK General Register Office. Volume: 1A; Page: 623
   FamilySearch Record: QVH6-3P99 (accessed 1 December 2023)
   Agnes B W Russell death registered 1930 in London, England, United Kingdom (age 45).
9. ↑ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34408/page/3855/data.pdf
10. ↑ Death Registration: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007"
    citing UK General Register Office. Volume: 5D; Page: 308
    FamilySearch Record: QVCG-JWWJ (accessed 1 December 2023)
    Alexander W Russell death registered 1961 in London, England, United Kingdom (age 81).
11. ↑ Death Registration: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007"
    citing UK General Register Office. Volume: 5D; Page: 308
    FamilySearch Record: QVCG-VMS4 (accessed 1 December 2023)
    Alexander West-Russell death registered 1961 in London, England, United Kingdom (age 81).
12. ↑ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/42546/page/9357/data.pdf
13. ↑ Death Registration: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007"
    citing UK General Register Office. Volume: 795/1; Page: A61C
    FamilySearch Record: QVZV-NYXQ (accessed 1 December 2023)
    David Sturrock West Russell death registered 2004 in Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom (born 17 Jul 1921).
14. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/jul/10/guardianobituaries?CMP=gu_com

• Searches on Scotlandspeople and Findmypast
• Wikidata: Item Q19605020, en:Wikipedia - Wikipedia stub
• https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw52398/Sir-Alexander-West-Russell (portrait)