John Bell (traveller) facts for kids
John Bell (born in 1691, died in 1780) was a Scottish doctor and an amazing traveler. He explored many parts of Asia and Europe, sharing his adventures with the world through his writings.
John Bell's Amazing Journeys
John Bell was born in a place called Antermony, near Milton of Campsie in Scotland. He studied medicine in the city of Glasgow. In 1714, when he was about 23 years old, he decided to travel to Saint Petersburg, which is a big city in Russia.
In Russia, John Bell got a special job. He became the doctor for Artemy Volynsky, who was an ambassador going to Persia. From 1715 to 1718, John traveled with the ambassador on this important trip.
After that, John Bell spent four more years on another exciting journey. This time, he went with an ambassador to China. On this trip, he traveled through vast lands like Siberia and the big Tatar deserts. Imagine how long and difficult those journeys must have been!
Soon after returning from China, he was asked to join Peter the Great, the famous Russian emperor, on an expedition. This trip took them to Derbent and the Caspian Gates. In 1738, the Russian government sent him on another mission, this time to Constantinople (which is now Istanbul in Turkey). He returned to Saint Petersburg in May of that year.
After all his travels, John Bell decided to become a merchant in Constantinople for several years. He married a Russian lady named Mary Peters there. In 1746, he returned to Scotland. He spent the rest of his life on his estate, enjoying time with his friends. John Bell passed away on July 1, 1780, when he was 89 years old. He is buried in Campsie Glen.
His Famous Book
John Bell wrote only one book, but it became very famous! It was called Travels from St. Petersburg in Russia to various parts of Asia. This book was published in 1763 and came in two volumes. It was printed by Robert and Andrew Foulis in Glasgow.
His book was based on the detailed diaries he kept during his travels. Even though his main job was being a doctor, his book is full of amazing descriptions of the places he saw and the people he met. It was quickly translated into French and Russian, and many people across Europe read it. Because his book was so widely read, it became a very important way for people in the 18th century to learn about places like Siberia.
