Russell, Arthur Tozer

(1806-1874)

   Clergyman and hymn-writer who translated many of Martin Luther's hymns, he was born at Northampton, the son of Thomas Russell, also a clergyman. He graduated bachelor of laws in 1830 from St. John's College, Cambridge, having been ordained a deacon in 1827. He was appointed vicar of Caxton, Cambridgeshire, in 1830, and his last appointment was rector of Southwick, Sussex, where he died. He contributed his first hymns to his father's Collection of Hymns (1813), which went through seventeen editions. In 1843 Russell published Hymn Tunes, Original and Selected. In all he produced about one hundred and forty original and one hundred and thirty translated hymns (some of which are in many current hymn books), as well as several sermons and essays. Many of his hymns were included in: The Christian Life, 1847. Psalms and Hymns, 1851. The Choral Hymn-book, 1861. Book of Praise, 1863 (by the Earl of Selborne, 1812-1895). Some of his hymn/poems: "The Lord Ascendeth Up on High," "In Thee Alone, O Christ, My Lord," "O Jesus We Adore Thee," "O Lamb of God Most Holy," "To Him Who for Our Sins Was Slain."

   Sources: Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition 1.1. Oxford University Press, 1997. The Cyber Hymnal (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/index.htm).