Sir William Howard Russell (1820-1907)

Photograph of Mr Russell sitting facing partly left on a canvas chair. He is wearing a long coat and peaked hat and has his hands clasped together. There is a pair of white gloves on the ground between his legs.

Mr Russell was a war correspondent for The Times during the Crimean War. It was the first time that the British public could read about the realities of warfare and his reports were very influential in shaping public opinion of the Crimean War. Russell became known for his direct and critical reports of the conflict and particularly for one report which he wrote on the afternoon of 25 October 1854, following the action known as the Charge of the Light Brigade. Russell had watched the action alongside Lord Raglan, on Sapoune Heights and set down his impressions only a few hours afterwards. The report was sent to England and appeared in The Times on Tuesday 14 November 1854. Tennyson was moved to write his poem, The Charge of the Light Brigade, after reading Russell's report.