Samuel Russell was born in Middletown; Connecticut on August 25; 1789; to Capt. John Russell and Abigail Warner. Russell was orphaned at the age of 12; did not receive any significant inheritance; and did not attend college. Instead; he began his career as apprentice clerk for a maritime trade merchant; Whittlesley & Alsop; in Middletown. It is there that Russell began learning his skills as a trader.

In 1810; his apprenticeship having ended; he moved to New York where he hoped to prosper. In 1812; he joined Hull & Griswold; a merchant house; based in New York but established by investors with family ties in Connecticut. He began traveling on company ships as supercargo and soon began trading on a commission basis which enabled him to found his first company; Russell & Company; a commission trader for Hull & Griswold; in his hometown of Middletown.

Attracted by financial prospects; Russell set out for China; an assured profitable venture. He arrived in Canton; China; in 1819; engaging in trade on behalf of the Providence firm of Edward Carrington & Company in various goods and products including opium; an extremely profitable activity despite being outlawed-yet protected by foreign forces.

The profits made by Russell enabled him to found Russell & Company in Canton; China; in 1824. Dealing mostly in silks; teas and opium; Russell & Company prospered; and by 1842; it had become the largest American trading house in China. It kept its dominance until its closing in 1891.

Russell withdrew from the company in 1836. He returned to America; and lived in his mansion in his hometown of Middletown; Connecticut; until his death in 1862. Pictures From Asia Noppon Khamnoi