William Russell, born in Culpeper County, Virginia, in 1758, removed in early boyhood with his father to the western frontier of that State. When only fifteen years of age, he joined the party led by Daniel Boone, to form a settlement on the Cumberland River. Driven back by the Indians, Boone persevered; but Russell hastened to enter the Continental army; and he received, young as he was, the appointment of lieutenant. After the battle of King’s Mountain in 1780, he was promoted to a captaincy, and ordered to join an expedition against the Cherokee Indians, with whom he succeeded in negotiating a treaty of peace. On the 3d of November, 1783, he received his commission as brigadier-general.

At the close of the war Russell went to Kentucky and bore an active part in all the expeditions against the Indians, until the settlement of the country was accomplished. In 1789, he was a delegate to the Virginia Legislature that passed an act separating Kentucky from that State. After the organization of the Kentucky government Russell was annually returned to the Legislature until 1808, when he was appointed by President Madison colonel of the Seventh United States Infantry. In 1811, he succeeded Gen. William Henry Harrison in command of the frontier of Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. In 1812, he planned and commanded an expedition against the Peoria Indians, and in 1823 was again sent to the Legislature. The following year he declined the nomination for governor, and died on the 3d of July, 1825, in Fayette County, Kentucky. Russell County of that State is named in his honor.