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John Bell (New Hampshire)
Encyclopedia
John Bell was governor of the U.S. state
of New Hampshire
for one year (1828 to 1829). Samuel Bell
, a brother, was the Governor of New Hampshire
from 1819 to 1823, and a son, Charles Henry Bell, served as Governor from 1881 to 1883.
John Bell was born on July 20, 1765, in Londonderry, New Hampshire
, the son of John and Mary Ann (née Gilmore) Bell.
He received a limited education by several New Hampshire common school
s, and according to the New Hampshire Division of Historical Records, he entered state politics when he became a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
in 1799 for Londonderry. However, the Political Graveyard
states that Bell was in the New Hampshire Senate
from 1786 to 1790 representing Rockingham County
. After he left his position as a representative for Londonderry in 1800, he moved to Chester
, and married Persis Thom on December 25, 1803. Together, they would have ten children; the youngest, Charles Henry Bell, served as Governor from 1881 to 1883. In 1803, Bell became a member of the state senate for the 3rd District until 1804. He was also a councilor from 1817 to 1823, and the sheriff
for Rockingham County from 1823 to 1828.
In 1828 Bell, as a National Republican and a supporter of President John Quincy Adams
(who lost to Andrew Jackson
in that year's presidential election
), defeated Benjamin Pierce
21,149 to 18,672 votes in an election for the governorship.
While he was Governor, the Exeter Savings Bank was chartered; several state manufacturing companies were incorporated; a number of schools were founded; manufacturing within the state increased; and new farming methods were endorsed. Bell promoted state support for formal agricultural education
, and experimentation in farming and agriculture.
In 1829, Bell was defeated for re-election by Pierce. Bell then retired from public service, and pursued actively his farming interests. He died on March 22, 1836, and was buried in the Village Cemetery in Chester.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
for one year (1828 to 1829). Samuel Bell
Samuel Bell
Samuel Bell was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 14th Governor of New Hampshire from 1819 to 1823, and as the United States Senator for New Hampshire from 1823 to 1835...
, a brother, was the Governor of New Hampshire
Governor of New Hampshire
The Governor of the State of New Hampshire is the supreme executive magistrate of the U.S. state of New Hampshire.The governor is elected at the biennial state general election in November of even-numbered years. New Hampshire is one of only two states, along with bordering Vermont, to hold...
from 1819 to 1823, and a son, Charles Henry Bell, served as Governor from 1881 to 1883.
John Bell was born on July 20, 1765, in Londonderry, New Hampshire
Londonderry, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,236 people, 7,623 households, and 6,319 families residing in the town. The population density was 555.8 people per square mile . There were 7,718 housing units at an average density of 184.6 per square mile...
, the son of John and Mary Ann (née Gilmore) Bell.
He received a limited education by several New Hampshire common school
Common school
A common school was a public school in the United States or Canada in the nineteenth century. The term 'common school' was coined by Horace Mann, and refers to the fact that they were meant to serve individuals of all social classes and religions....
s, and according to the New Hampshire Division of Historical Records, he entered state politics when he became a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
New Hampshire House of Representatives
The New Hampshire House of Representatives is the lower house in the New Hampshire General Court. The House of Representatives consists of 400 members coming from 103 districts across the state, created from divisions of the state's counties. On average, each legislator represents about 3,300...
in 1799 for Londonderry. However, the Political Graveyard
The Political Graveyard
The Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...
states that Bell was in the New Hampshire Senate
New Hampshire Senate
The New Hampshire Senate has been meeting since 1784. It is the upper house of the New Hampshire General Court. It consists of 24 members representing Senate districts based on population...
from 1786 to 1790 representing Rockingham County
Rockingham County, New Hampshire
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 277,359 people, 104,529 households, and 74,320 families residing in the county. The population density was 399 people per square mile . There were 113,023 housing units at an average density of 163 per square mile...
. After he left his position as a representative for Londonderry in 1800, he moved to Chester
Chester, New Hampshire
Chester is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,768 at the 2010 census. It is home to Chester College .-History:Incorporated in 1722, Chester once included Candia, set off in 1763...
, and married Persis Thom on December 25, 1803. Together, they would have ten children; the youngest, Charles Henry Bell, served as Governor from 1881 to 1883. In 1803, Bell became a member of the state senate for the 3rd District until 1804. He was also a councilor from 1817 to 1823, and the sheriff
Sheriffs in the United States
In the United States, a sheriff is a county official and is typically the top law enforcement officer of a county. Historically, the sheriff was also commander of the militia in that county. Distinctive to law enforcement in the United States, sheriffs are usually elected. The political election of...
for Rockingham County from 1823 to 1828.
In 1828 Bell, as a National Republican and a supporter of President John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
(who lost to Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
in that year's presidential election
United States presidential election, 1828
The United States presidential election of 1828 featured a rematch between John Quincy Adams, now incumbent President, and Andrew Jackson, the runner-up in the 1824 election. With no other major candidates, Jackson and his chief ally Martin Van Buren consolidated their bases in the South and New...
), defeated Benjamin Pierce
Benjamin Pierce (governor)
Benjamin Pierce was an American Democratic-Republican politician. He served as Governor of New Hampshire from 1827 to 1828 and from 1829 to 1830.-Biography:...
21,149 to 18,672 votes in an election for the governorship.
While he was Governor, the Exeter Savings Bank was chartered; several state manufacturing companies were incorporated; a number of schools were founded; manufacturing within the state increased; and new farming methods were endorsed. Bell promoted state support for formal agricultural education
Agricultural education
Agricultural education is instruction about crop production, livestock management, soil and water conservation, and various other aspects of agriculture. Agricultural education includes instruction in food education, such as nutrition...
, and experimentation in farming and agriculture.
In 1829, Bell was defeated for re-election by Pierce. Bell then retired from public service, and pursued actively his farming interests. He died on March 22, 1836, and was buried in the Village Cemetery in Chester.