Born at Strabane, Co Tyrone on 23 August 1873, the youngest son of the Rev William A Russell, a Presbyterian minister, he received his early education in Ireland and then went to the City of London School. He studied medicine at University College Hospital, won class medals, and was awarded the Filliter exhibition in pathological anatomy and pathology. In 1896 he obtained the London MB with first-class honours and the gold medal in medicine and honours in forensic medicine. After graduation Dill Russell was demonstrator of anatomy and obstetric assistant at University College Hospital, and in 1898-99 was senior surgical officer at the South Devon and East Cornwall Hospital, Plymouth. In 1900 he entered general practice at Finchley and soon built up a large practice; he did a good deal of operative work, satisfying his surgical skill and inclination. He became surgeon to the Metropolitan Police and to the Finchley and Hornsey Cottage Hospital, and an examiner and lecturer under the LCC. From 1902 Dill Russell was honorary secretary of the North London branch of the BMA and of the Hampstead division in 1904. During the first world war he served in the RAMC, and in 1920 accepted the post of divisional medical officer under the Ministry of Health, which involved travelling all over the country. Later he became a senior medical officer in Whitehall until his retirement in 1939. His home was 41 Gayton Road, Harrow. During the second world war he did valuable work on medical boards. In 1902 Dill Russell married Charlotte Evangeline, daughter of Dr Frederick Wimberley; they celebrated their golden wedding in 1952. They had one daughter and five sons, two of whom were killed in the 1939-45 war. Two surviving sons followed their father into medicine: A Scott Dill-Russell and Patrick Dill-Russell. John Dill Russell, a modest man of great integrity, died on 21 February 1955 aged 81. His wife died at their home Wigtoft, Horsell Rise, Woking aged 81 on 5 March 1957.