Francis Bell (New Zealand politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francis Bell
GCMG KC
|
|
|---|---|
Bell c. 1924
|
|
| 20th Prime Minister of New Zealand | |
| In office 14 May 1925 – 30 May 1925 |
|
| Monarch | George V |
| Governor-General | Charles Fergusson |
| Preceded by | William Massey |
| Succeeded by | Gordon Coates |
| Constituency | none (Legislative Councillor) |
| 11th Mayor of Wellington | |
| In office 1891–1893 |
|
| Preceded by | Arthur Winton Brown |
| Succeeded by | Alfred Brandon |
| In office 1896–1897 |
|
| Preceded by | George Fisher |
| Succeeded by | John Rutherford Blair |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 31 March 1851 Nelson, New Zealand |
| Died | 13 March 1936 (aged 84) Wellington, New Zealand |
| Political party | Reform |
| Spouses |
Caroline Robinson, Lady Bell
(m. 1878; died 1935) |
| Children | 8, including: Cheviot Bell William Bell |
| Parents | Sir Dillon Bell Margaret (Hort), Lady Bell |
| Relatives | Arthur Bell (brother) Brenda Bell (niece) |
Sir Francis Henry Dillon Bell GCMG PC KC (born 31 March 1851, died 13 March 1936) was an important New Zealand lawyer and politician. He became the 20th Prime Minister of New Zealand for a short time, from 14 to 30 May 1925. He was the first Prime Minister who was actually born in New Zealand. He took over after the previous Prime Minister, William Massey, passed away.
Francis Bell was born in Nelson. His father, Sir Dillon Bell, was also a politician. Francis went to Auckland Grammar School and Otago Boys' High School. Later, he studied in England at St John's College, Cambridge. After his studies, he came back to New Zealand to work as a lawyer in Wellington. He even became the president of the New Zealand Law Society.
Bell was the Mayor of Wellington twice, from 1891 to 1893 and again from 1896 to 1897. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1893. He served one term before going back to his law career in 1896.
In 1912, Bell joined the Legislative Council as a member of the Reform Party. In the government led by William Massey, he held several important jobs. These included Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Immigration, Attorney-General, Minister of Health, and Minister of External Affairs. When William Massey died in 1925, Bell, who was 74 years old, became Prime Minister for 16 days. This was a temporary role while the party chose a new leader, Gordon Coates. Bell retired from politics the next year. Only one other Prime Minister, Henry Sewell, served for a shorter time.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Francis Bell was born in Nelson. He was the oldest son of Sir Dillon Bell. His mother, Margaret Hort, became a Christian, though she was born Jewish. His younger brother was Arthur Bell.
Francis went to two well-known schools: Auckland Grammar School and Otago Boys' High School. At Otago Boys, he was the top student, known as the Dux. After high school, he traveled to England. There, he studied at St John's College, Cambridge, and earned his degree in 1873.
When he returned to New Zealand, he started working as a lawyer in Wellington. He also played two first-class cricket matches for Wellington when he was younger.
Bell worked as a Crown Solicitor in Wellington for many years. He was a very important member of both local and national law societies. He was the president of the New Zealand Law Society from 1901 to 1918.
He married Caroline Robinson on 24 April 1878 in Christchurch. They had eight children, four daughters and four sons. One of his sons, William Henry Dillon Bell, was also a Member of Parliament. Sadly, William resigned from Parliament to fight in World War I and was killed in 1917.
His niece, Brenda Bell, and nephew, Frank Bell, became famous for their work in early radio.
Political Journey
| New Zealand Parliament | ||||
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | |
| 1893–1896 | 12th | Wellington | Independent | |
Francis Bell's political career started when he was elected Mayor of Wellington in 1891. He served as mayor again in 1892 and 1896.
In his first try for Parliament in the 1890 election, he lost. He also narrowly lost a special election in 1892. But he finally entered Parliament in the 1893 election election, serving one term.
In 1912, the Reform Party came into power. On 10 July 1912, Bell was appointed to the Legislative Council. This was like an upper house of Parliament at the time.
He took on several important government roles:
- Minister of Internal Affairs (1912–1915)
- Minister of Immigration (1912–1920)
- Attorney-General (1918–1926)
- He was also the first Commissioner of State Forests.
- From 1923, he also served as the Minister of External Affairs.
Bell represented New Zealand at the League of Nations in 1922. The League of Nations was an organization that aimed to promote peace after World War I. He also attended important international meetings in Genoa and the Hague.
For his service, Bell received special honours. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1915. Later, in 1923, he was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the same order. In 1926, he was appointed to the Privy Council, which is a group of advisors to the King.
Becoming Prime Minister
When William Massey, the Prime Minister, was in London, Francis Bell became the Acting Prime Minister. Massey's health was getting worse, and Bell took on many of his duties.
Bell officially became Prime Minister on 14 May 1925, after Massey's death on 10 May. He served as Prime Minister for just 16 days. The party offered him the full job of Prime Minister, but Bell declined. He was then replaced by Gordon Coates.
After he gave up his government roles in 1926, Bell went back to the League of Nations with Coates.
In 1935, he was given the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal to celebrate the King's 25 years on the throne.
Later Life and Death
Bell's wife, Caroline, passed away in Wellington on 8 September 1935. Francis Bell himself died in Wellington on 13 March 1936.
Remembering Francis Bell
A road in Wellington is named Bell Road, in his honour.
