Russell's tenure, sympathy for the Oriya Movement for the creation of a separate province of Orissa increased: Russell opposed the demands for the separation of the Oriya-speaking tracts of Vizagapatam and Ganjam districts from Madras. Viceroy of India When Lord Curzon's tenure came to an end in 1904, Russell was chosen to act as the Viceroy of India until the appointment of a new Viceroy. Russell served from April to December 1904 as Viceroy of India. During his tenure, the proponents of a separate province of Orissa submitted a petition to this effect to Russell. However, Russell rejected all demands to create a separate province of Orissa and include areas from Madras Presidency in it. As Viceroy, Russell was loyal to Curzon and successfully countered the efforts of St John Brodrick, 1st Earl of Midleton, the Secretary of State for India, who wanted to introduce anti-Curzon policies. However, he was unsuccessful against Lord Kitchener, who tightened his stranglehold over the military department. Later life On returning to England in 1906, Russell took up the cause of Indians in South Africa. He chaired an advisory committee on Indian students in the United Kingdom but disagreed with the Secretary of State for India John Morley on the issue of constitutional reforms. In 1909, Russell wrote an introduction to Joseph Doke's book M. K. Gandhi: an Indian Patriot in South Africa. On 13July 1909, Lord Ampthill was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Bedfordshire. He then went on to fight in the First World War, during which he was twice mentioned in despatches, and was one of the co-founders of the National Party in 1917. He retired from the service in 1926 with the rank of colonel. Lord Ampthill was President of The Magic Circle. Death Lord Ampthill died of pneumonia 7July 1935, a day before Nickalls, prompting the following anonymous epigram among the various tributes in The Times: Oarsmen they lived, and silver goblets mark The well-timed prowess of their trusty blades: In death their rhythm kept, they now embark To row their long last course among the Shades Family On 6 October 1894, Ampthill married Lady Margaret Lygon, the daughter of the 6th Earl Beauchamp in Madresfield, Worcestershire, and they had five children: John Russell, 3rd Baron Ampthill (1896–1973) Adm Sir Guy Russell (1898–1977) Phyllis Margaret Russell, OBE (3 June 1900 – c. 24 May 1998) Wg Cdr Edward Wriothesley Curzon Russell,