Joseph Russell (August 17, 1786 – March 10, 1855) was a Scottish-born businessman and shipbuilder in New Brunswick. He was born in Clackmannan, Clackmannanshire, the son of Thomas Russell. He joined the Royal Navy at a young age. In 1819, he married Ann Agnes Hunter at Chatham, New Brunswick. Russell owned a number of buildings in Chatham, including a hotel. He helped establish the Chatham Fire Company in 1824. In 1827, he began building ships. In 1831, a fire destroyed several of his buildings and, in 1832, he purchased a shipyard in Chatham from . In 1839, he sold that property to Joseph Cunard and moved his operation to Beaubears Island. Russell hired as his shipbuilder and George Burchill as general manager for his shipyard. In 1837, with other businessman, he made an unsuccessful att