Editing John Russell, 1st Earl Russell (section)

== Legacy and reputation ==
[[File:John Russell, Vanity Fair, 1869-06-05.jpg|left|thumb|upright=0.95|"The greatest liberal statesman of modern times" – Russell's small stature was frequently lampooned by political caricaturists.]]

Scion of one of the most powerful aristocratic families, Russell was a leading reformer who weakened the power of the aristocracy. His great achievements, wrote [[A. J. P. Taylor]], were based on his persistent battles in Parliament over the years on behalf of the expansion of liberty; after each loss he tried again and again, until finally, his efforts were largely successful.{{sfn|Taylor|1976|p=67}} [[Llewellyn Woodward|E. L. Woodward]], however, argued that he was too much the abstract theorist:

{{blockquote|He was more concerned with the removal of obstacles to civil liberty than with the creation of a more reasonable and civilized society. His political theory centred in the [[Glorious Revolution|revolution of 1688]], and in the clique of aristocratic families to whom the country owed loyalty in return for something like the ''{{lang|fr|[[Charter of 1814|charte octroyée]]}}'' of the reform bill.|source={{harvnb|Woodward |1962|p=100}} }}  Nevertheless, Russell led his Whig party into support for reform; he was the principal architect of the [[Reform Act 1832]] ([[2 & 3 Will. 4]]. c. 45).

He was succeeded as Liberal leader by former Peelite [[William Ewart Gladstone|William Gladstone]], and was thus the last true Whig to serve as prime minister. Generally taken as the model for [[Anthony Trollope]]'s Mr. Mildmay, aspects of his character may also have suggested those of [[Plantagenet Palliser]]. An ideal statesman, said Trollope, should have "unblemished, unextinguishable, inexhaustible love of country.... But he should also be scrupulous, and, as being scrupulous, weak."<ref>Quoted in {{harvnb|Kenney|1965|pp=281–285}}</ref>

The [[Reform Act 1832]] and extension of the franchise to British cities are partly attributed to his efforts. He also worked for emancipation, leading the attack on the [[Test Act|Test]] and [[Corporation Act 1661|Corporation acts]], which were repealed in 1828, as well as towards legislation limiting working hours in factories in the [[Factories Act 1847]], and the [[Public Health Act 1848]] ([[11 & 12 Vict.]] c. 63).

His government's approach to dealing with the Great Irish Famine is now widely condemned as counterproductive, ill-informed and disastrous. Russell himself was sympathetic to the plight of the Irish poor, and many of his relief proposals were blocked by his cabinet or by the British Parliament.{{sfn|Scherer|1999|p=158}}

[[Queen Victoria]]'s attitude toward Russell was coloured by his role in the Aberdeen administration. On his death in 1878 her journal records that he was "a man of much talent, who leaves a name behind him, kind, & good, with a great knowledge of the constitution, who behaved very well, on many trying occasions; but he was impulsive, very selfish (as shown on many occasions, especially during Ld Aberdeen's administration) vain, & often reckless & imprudent."

A public house in Bloomsbury, large parts of which are still owned by the Bedford Estate, is named after Russell, located on Marchmont Street.

Earl Russell Street is named after him in [[Aylestone]], a suburb of [[Leicester]].

Russell Road in [[Merton Park]], a suburb of [[London]], is named after him, adjacent to Derby, Gladstone, Palmerston and Pelham Roads, all named after former Prime Ministers.

The town of [[Russell, New Zealand|Russell]] in the [[Northland Region]] of New Zealand, was named in honour of him as the then Secretary of State for the Colonies.