Russell, Bertrand

The British philosopher and author Bertrand Arthur William Russel was born in Trelleck, Monmouthshire, Wales, to an aristocratic family that included the former Prime Minister Lord John Russell. His parents were liberal and advocated, among other things, the emancipation of women. Although his godfather was John Stuart Mill, the boy was brought up by his Presbyterian grandmother after he was orphaned in 1876. Russell soon took exception to religion, however, he became an atheist and spent the rest of his life speaking in favour of scientific reason.