Annroi is correct about his year of death.

In 1791 a group of merchants and tradesmen in Belfast formed the First Society of United Irishmen it's founder was Wolfe Tone, it consisted of 36 members, among whom was his close friend Thomas Russell a former officer in the British Army and a County Tyrone Justice of the Peace., who later became the librarian of Linenhall Library in Belfast.

After the 1798 rebellion was put down a few remaining United Irishmen still at large plotted another attempt on behalf of Robert Emmet's rebellion in 1803, Thomas Russell was one of them and took the task of recruiting volunteers from Co.Down but with little sucess. After Emmet was arrested on 25th August Russell left the north and went into hiding in Dublin where he hoped to organise a jail break to free Emmet. Insted he was arrested on 9th September by Major Henry Sirr, who was also the captor of Emmet

Russell was hanged at Downpatrick Gaol in October 1803. While it is generally accepted that he hailed from Co Cork there is lots of evidence that he was originally from Ulster. Thus the appropriate name " The man from God knows where"