James Stuart Russell (1816–1895) was born in Elgin, Scotland. Entering King’s College, University of Aberdeen, at 12 years old, he completed his MA at 18. After a short time working in a law office, he began preparing for ministry, studying at the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and finally Cheshunt College. Russell became a Congregationalist minister, pastoring in Great Yarmouth, Tottenham and Edmonton, and finally Bayswater, where he stayed until his retirement in 1888. Upon publication of The Parousia, Russell was given an honorary Doctor in Divinity from the University of Aberdeen.