Lee M. Russell

Lee Maurice Russell (November 16, 1875 – May 16, 1943) was a Mississippi politician.

Lee Maurice Russell
40th Governor of Mississippi
In office January 20, 1920 – January 22, 1924
Lieutenant	Homer H. Casteel
Preceded by	Theodore G. Bilbo
Succeeded by	Henry L. Whitfield
18th Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi
In office January 18, 1916 – January 20, 1920
Governor	Theodore G. Bilbo
Preceded by	Theodore G. Bilbo
Succeeded by	Homer H. Casteel
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives
In office 1907
Member of the Mississippi Senate
In office 1909
Personal details
Born	November 16, 1875 Lafayette County, Mississippi
Died	May 16, 1943 (aged 67) Jackson, Mississippi
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Ethel May Day
Profession	Lawyer

He was born in Lafayette County, Mississippi and later attended the University of Mississippi. During his time as a student, he was the leader in a movement to abolish Greek fraternities. Russell graduated from the university in 1901 and enrolled in the University of Mississippi School of Law. After completing the course, he was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Oxford, Mississippi.

Russell was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1907 and to the Mississippi State Senate in 1909. In 1912, he successfully passed a bill prohibiting secret and exclusive societies at the public institutions of higher learning. The law stayed on the books for twelve years.

Russell was elected to the office of lieutenant governor in 1915 and elected governor in 1919. His term was marked by crop failures due to the boll weevil. Russell also filed an antitrust suit against several fire insurance companies for their business practices.

In 1923, he was sued for seduction and breach of promise by his former secretary Frances Birkhead.[1] Russell was acquitted and he blamed the lawsuit on the fire insurance industry.

Russell was unable to run for re-election due to the term limits in the Mississippi constitution at that time. He retired to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. There he sold real estate for a period prior to returning to Jackson to practice law until his death on May 16, 1943.[2] He is buried at Lakewood Memorial Park in Jackson.

References

1. Sansing, David G. (1999). The University of Mississippi: A Sesquicentennial History. University Press of Mississippi. p. 206. OCLC 39811709.
2. American Political Leaders 1789–2009

External links

• Lee M. Russell's grave at Find-A-Grave
• Profile at National Governors Association website