Russell Square was established in 1801 by Francis Russell, the fifth Duke of Bedford. He commissioned James Burton, the most successful developer at the time, to design and construct the buildings. Russell square was the centerpiece of Russell’s development plan for Bloomsbury to increase economic activity. This plan was extremely successful. Russell Square was the largest square in London at the time, and one of the most desirable places to live in. Not only was Russell Square built in Bloomsbury, the intellectual and literary capital of London, but the square is also within walking distance of The British Museum and Oxford Street. Russell Square quickly became home to the highest of society. Some of the famous residents of Russell Square include the influential poets Thomas Grey, William Cowper, and T.S. Eliot. After the establishment of Russell Square in 1801, Bloomsbury became filled with countless scientists and artists, as shown in Michael Boulter’s novel, “Bloomsbury Scientists."

Sources:

“Russell Square.” Hidden London, https://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/russell-square/. 

“Russell Square.” Bloomsbury Squares & Gardens, 30 Nov. 2021, https://bloomsburysquares.com/the-squares/russell-square/. 

Trimatis, Killian. “A Brief History of Bloomsbury.” TripTide, https://triptide.london/journals/bloomsbury-history. 

Boulter, Michael. Bloomsbury Scientists PDF. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1573504/1/Bloomsbury-Scientists.pdf.