He took office as prime minister for the second time
In the Peerage of the United Kingdom, Russell was elevated to the peerage in 1861 and given the titles of Earl Russell, of Kingston Russell in the County of Dorset, Viscount Amberley, of Amberley in the County of Gloucester, and Ardsalla in the County of Meath. For the rest of his career, he served in the House of Lords rather than just being addressed as "Lord" since he was a Duke's son. One of the interesting facts about John Russell is he once more took office as prime minister after Palmerston's unexpected death in late 1865. Russell's second term as premier was brief and difficult, and he was unable to realize his big goal of increasing the number of eligible voters—a job that would be left to his Conservative successors, Derby and Benjamin Disraeli. Again, party division toppled his administration in 1866. Russell didn't hold any offices ever again. He made his final House of Lords speech on August 3, 1875.
On May 28, 1878, Earl Russell passed away in his Pembroke Lodge mansion. Russell was given a public funeral and burial at Westminster Abbey by the Prime Minister, the Earl of Beaconsfield, but Countess Russell turned it down because her late husband wanted to be buried with his family and ancestors. In the "Bedford Chapel" of St. Michael's Church in Chenies, Buckinghamshire, he is laid to rest.
