Charles Russell

Charles Russell (1817-1892), known as "Black Douglas", was an Australian bushranger, who became famous for robbing miners on the road between Bendigo and Melbourne.[1]

Early life

Russell was born in Bristol, England in 1817.[1] After coming to Australia, he was well known as a prize fighter, boxing for money. He began robbing people on their way to and from the goldfields at Bendigo. One report claimed he robbed 16 people and chained them to a log.[2]

In 1860, Wilhelmine Guischard wrote a book called Black Douglas: An Australian Romance.

In 1926, his pistol was given to the police. Russell had forgotten it during a robbery in 1857. It was planned to be presented in the Castlemaine Art Gallery.[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Obituaries Australia: Obituary - Charles Russell - Obituaries Australia, accessdate: October 26, 2015
  2. australia.gov.au: Early Australian bushrangers | australia.gov.au Archived 2015-10-05 at the Wayback Machine, accessdate: October 26, 2015
  3. 1926 'BUSHRANGER'S PISTOL.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 18 June, p. 11, viewed 26 October, 2015, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3789624