The Atlantic Telegraph

William Howard Russell (1820-1907) started his career in journalism in 1841 with the Times, covering the Irish general election. Most of his journalistic life was spent with the Times, largely as a war correspondent. In 1854 he was sent to cover the Crimean War and his uncompromising reports helped bring about the fall of the Aberdeen Ministry. In 1860 Russell founded the Army and Navy Gazette as well as continuing to work for the Times covering important occasions like the American Civil War and the Franco-Prussian conflict. In 1895 he was knighted and in 1902 was created Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, as well as receiving orders from France, Prussia, Turkey, Austria, Greece and Portugal.