On December 21, 1795, Reverend John Russell is born in Dartmouth, Devon, England. Russell's claim to fame came about as a result of his fondness for fox hunting. Seeking the perfect dog for his pursuit, Russell purchased a small, white female dog from a local milkman and began developing his own breed. Named "Trump," the dog was the beginning of a breeding program which resulted in the Jack Russell Terrier breed.

Following John Russell's death on April 28, 1883, the heritage of his work with terriers continued with his dogs being bred for the pursuit of foxes, badgers, and vermin. As the demand for hunting dogs declined following World War II, the Jack Russell Terrier became more popular as family and companion animal. However, anyone who may be considering adopting a Jack Russell Terrier should be prepared to dedicate plenty of time exercising and playing with their dog as the breed, due to its working heritage, is highly energetic and athletic as well as highly intelligent.

There are many notable Jack Russell Terriers. Bothy, who belonged to explorers Ranulph and Ginny Feinnes, was the first and likely only dog to ever set foot on both the North and South Poles. George was a JRT in New Zealand who gave his live to save five children from a pair of aggressive pit bulls and was posthumously awarded the PDSA Gold Medal for his actions, as well as a statue in his honor. Jack Russells also appear quite frequently in television and film, including Frasier (Eddie, played by Moose and his son Enzo), My Dog Skip (Skip, also played by Moose and Enzo), The Mask (Milo, played by Max), and PBS children's program Wishbone (Wishbone, played by Soccer).