he planned to quit school to travel in Africa. A letter from Dickens dissuaded the boys, but Russell continued to crave a life of adventure. At the age of 13, Russell left school and joined the United Kingdom's Merchant Navy as an apprentice on the Duncan Dunbar. In 1894 he recollected: Russell travelled to Asia and Australia. Off the coast of China during 1860 he witnessed the capture of the Taku Forts by combined British and French forces. Later, while he was serving on the ship Hougoumont, the third mate went mad, and attacked him with a table-knife. Russell began to write of some of his experiences when he was confined to his quarters for a breach of discipline. At the age of 21, in 1866, Russell quit the Merchant Service. As the privations of his eight years as a sailor had gravely damaged his health, he was never completely healthy again for the rest of his life. The positive legacy from his service was a wealth of material on which he based a successful career as a novelist. Family At the age of 24, Russell married Anna Maria Alexandrina Clark Russell née Henry (January 1845September 11, 1926), whom he referred to as Alexandrina. The two married on June 27, 1868 in St. Stephen, Paddington, Westminster, England. In just one year, William and Alexandrina welcomed their first son, Herbert Henry William (March 28, 1869March 23, 1944), on March 28, 1869. In total the couple had six children, two sons and 4 daughters, during their years together. In April 1870, Eveleen Katherina (April 1870January 1879) was born, but her life was cut short in January 1879 at the young age of 9. Following the loss of their first born daughter, the couple had Geraldine Mary Clark (April 1872Mary 15, 1949) in April 1872. Then came Charles Edward (June 9, 1875October 19, 1906), born June 9, 1875; Marguerite Isabelle Ellaby (April 1877May 1, 1961) born April 1877; and finally Annie Marcella (October 1880May 19, 1966), born October 1880. William Russell's first-born, Herbert, followed closely in his father's footsteps. Having caught his father's love for the sea and literature, Herbert followed a similar path to William's, also becoming a journalist for the very same newspapers, The Newcastle Daily Chronicle and The Daily Telegraph. Subsequently, Herbert wrote his own nautical novels and accompanied the Prince of Wales on his tour of India and Japan