Papers of Sir Charles Russell, Lord Russell of Killowen,

1888-1890.

9 letters and 1 volume "Special Commission Act, 1888. Mr Charles Stewart Parnell, M.P., and others. Complete analysis of evidence".

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Bibliographic Details
Main Creator: Russell of Killowen, Charles Russell, Baron, 1832-1900
Contributors: Parnell, Charles Stewart, 1846-1891
Format: Manuscript
Language:English
Subjects:
Notes:Sir Charles Russell was born in Newry, County Down, to a Catholic family. He qualified as a solicitor in 1854, spent a few years defending Catholics in trouble with the authorities, and then moved to London, determined to become a barrister. He entered Parliament in 1880 as Liberal member for Dundalk. He was appointed Attorney-General by Gladstone in 1886 and again in 1892, and played a leading part in promoting Home Rule legislation. In 1894 he became an Appeal Court Judge, and later that year was appointed Lord Chief Justice, the first Catholic to hold the position since the Reformation. As a barrister, his greatest triumph was at the Parnell Commission, 1888-1889, where his cross-examination of Richard Pigott exposed him as having forged the letters (allegedly by Parnell) at the heart of the case. In 1893 Russell represented Britain at an international arbitration of competing claims in the Bering Sea. In 1894 he took the title of Lord Russell of Killowen (his native townland in Co. Down). In 1899 he again represented Britain at an arbitration hearing of the Venezuelan border dispute.

Physical description: 9 letters & 1 volume.

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Arrangement:Sub-fonds

Letter from James Howard Harris, 3rd Earl of Malmesbury, 24 Grosvenor Gardens, London, to Sir Charles Russell, discussing the issues in the Parnell Commission,

[1888?] July 13.
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Bibliographic Details
In Collection: Papers of Sir Charles Russell, Lord Russell of Killowen, 1888-1890
Description:Writes: "As you, no doubt, will be an adviser in the matter of Parnell, I do hope that you will take seriously into consideration whether the inquiry is safe. Strictly between you and me, I believe that he did write the letters - this of course is only an opinion, but I have arrived at it. 1. From the conflicting statements that he has at various times made to me - 2. from his evident dislike of an inquiry - 3. from the curious nature of the man - indeed I have always looked upon him as a little wrong in the head. The letters are alleged to have been written after and before Cavendish's murder ...".
Main Creator: Malmesbury, James Howard Harris, Earl of, 1807-1889
Language:English
Extent:1 item (7 pages).
Format:Manuscript
Call Number: MS 49,610/2 (Manuscripts Reading Room)
Rights:Reproduction rights owned by the National Library of Ireland.