Thomas McNamara Russell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Died | 22 July 1824 near Poole, Dorset |
| Allegiance |  Great Britain |
| Service |  Royal Navy |
| Rank | Vice-Admiral |
| Commands | HMS Diligent HMS Bedford HMS Hussar HMS Diana HMS Vengeance HMS Princess Royal Second in command, Channel Squadron North Sea Fleet |
| Battles / wars | |
| Relations | Sir John Macnamara Hayes |
Thomas McNamara Russell (died 22 July 1824) was an admiral in the Royal Navy. Russell's naval career spanned the American Revolutionary War, French Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.
Admiral Russell is best remembered for his command of a squadron in the North Sea when he took possession of Heligoland after Denmark came into the war on the side of the French in 1809. His career was also notable due to the single-ship action fought between the 20-gun HMS Hussar and the 32-gun French frigate Sybille in which he captured the French frigate despite her superior number of men and guns. There is controversy surrounding the event in that the capture happened towards the end of the American Revolution and the British officers claimed that the French were flying false colours and a distress flag during the action. Whilst it was common for ships of opposing nations to lure, or escape from, one another with false colours[1] it was considered dishonourable to continue flying false flags once the action had begun. Similarly, the flying of a flag of distress was not an acceptable ruse de guerre, as it would dissuade shipping from approaching a vessel in genuine distress.
- ^ Cordingly, David (2007). Cochrane The Dauntless: The Life and Adventures of Thomas Cochrane. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7475-8545-9.