Russell McWhortor Cunningham (sometimes McWhorter; August 25, 1855 – June 6, 1921) was an American physician and politician. A Democrat, he was the Lieutenant Governor of Alabama and for a time acting Governor of Alabama.
Born in Lawrence County, Alabama, Cunningham studied medicine and served in numerous public health offices. As a politician, he served in both chambers of the Alabama Legislature. He later served as Lieutenant Governor, then spent some time as acting Governor in the absence of William D. Jelks. He passed many reforms throughout his career.
Early life and education
Cunningham was born on August 25, 1855, in Mount Hope, Lawrence County, Alabama, the son of Moses Winslow Cunningham and Nancy Caroline (née Russell) Cunningham.
Cunningham studied medicine, beginning in March 1871, under John M. Clark, a physician from North Alabama. In 1874 and 1875, he attended the University of Louisville School of Medicine, then in 1878 and 1879, attended the New York University Grossman School of Medicine,
Medical career
Cunningham began practicing medicine in 1876, in Franklin County. In 1881, he was made the physician of Wetumpka State Penitentiary. As penitentiary physician, he moved to Wetumpka, where he also practiced privately. He helped push for prison reform which greatly lowered the mortality rate of prisoners. In 1883, he moved to Birmingham, as a newly-passed law required the physician to practice where the majority of convicts worked, which at the time was at the nearby Pratt Mines.
Cunningham re-entered politics in 1896 and was elected to the Alabama Senate, representing Jefferson County from then until 1900; in 1898, he was president pro tempore of the Senate. His voterbase primarily consisted of supporters of the silver standard, though he never claimed to support the policy himself, notwithstanding his support for the pro-silver William Jennings Bryan for President. In 1900, he was chosen to represent William J. Samford in speaking events, as Samford had become ill.