Lee M. Russell

For other people named Lee Russell, see Lee Russell (disambiguation).

Lee Maurice Russell
40th Governor of Mississippi
In office January 18, 1920 – January 18, 1924
Lieutenant	Homer H. Casteel
Preceded by	Theodore G. Bilbo
Succeeded by	Henry L. Whitfield
12th Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi
In office January 18, 1916 – January 18, 1920
Governor	Theodore G. Bilbo
Preceded by	Theodore G. Bilbo
Succeeded by	Homer H. Casteel
Personal details
Born	(1875-11-16)November 16, 1875 Lafayette County, Mississippi
Died	Jackson, Mississippi
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Ethel May Day
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Methodist

Lee Maurice Russell (November 16, 1875 in Lafayette County, Mississippi) – May 5, 1943 in Jackson, Mississippi) was a Mississippi politician.

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. 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. He is buried at Lakewood Memorial Park in Jackson.

External links

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

Political offices
Preceded by Theodore G. Bilbo	Lieutenant Governor of Mississippi 1916–1920	Succeeded by Homer H. Casteel
Preceded by Theodore G. Bilbo	Governor of Mississippi 1920–1924	Succeeded by Henry L. Whitfield