John Bell (British politician)
Encyclopedia
John Bell was a Liberal Party
politician in the United Kingdom
. He is notable as a Member of Parliament
who was declared of unsound mind but there was no way of removing him from his seat until his death two years later.
in Yorkshire, living in Thirsk Hall, which John Bell inherited from his father, also called John Bell. The Manor has been in the family since the fifteenth century though there had been several cases when there wasn't a direct heir and it had passed to a sister's son who had assumed the name Bell. Their coat of arms features three silver bells.
Bell was elected unopposed as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for the borough of Thirsk
in Yorkshire. He was a Liberal and described as a 'Reformer'. He supported universal suffrage and was a member of the National Complete Suffrage Union. He was re-elected for Thirsk, again unopposed, at the general election on 31 July 1847
. Subsequently he became increasingly absent from Parliament and in the session to August 1849 he failed to be present for all the 219 votes.
Despite this, it was found impossible to remove him from his seat and he continued as the Member for Thirsk until his death in 1851. It was only with the passing of the Lunacy (Vacating of Seats) Act 1886
that it was possible to remove MPs who were of unsound mind.
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He is notable as a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
who was declared of unsound mind but there was no way of removing him from his seat until his death two years later.
Family background
The Bells are Lords of the Manor of ThirskThirsk
Thirsk is a small market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. The local travel links are located a mile from the town centre to Thirsk railway station and to Durham Tees Valley Airport...
in Yorkshire, living in Thirsk Hall, which John Bell inherited from his father, also called John Bell. The Manor has been in the family since the fifteenth century though there had been several cases when there wasn't a direct heir and it had passed to a sister's son who had assumed the name Bell. Their coat of arms features three silver bells.
Member of Parliament
At the general election in June 1841United Kingdom general election, 1841
-Seats summary:-Whig MPs who lost their seats:*Viscount Morpeth - Chief Secretary for Ireland*Sir George Strickland, Bt*Sir Henry Barron, 1st Baronet-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987...
Bell was elected unopposed as the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for the borough of Thirsk
Thirsk (UK Parliament constituency)
Thirsk was a parliamentary borough in Yorkshire, represented in the English and later British House of Commons in 1295, and again from 1547. It was represented by two Members of Parliament until 1832, and by one member from 1832 to 1885, when the constituency was abolished and absorbed into the new...
in Yorkshire. He was a Liberal and described as a 'Reformer'. He supported universal suffrage and was a member of the National Complete Suffrage Union. He was re-elected for Thirsk, again unopposed, at the general election on 31 July 1847
United Kingdom general election, 1841
-Seats summary:-Whig MPs who lost their seats:*Viscount Morpeth - Chief Secretary for Ireland*Sir George Strickland, Bt*Sir Henry Barron, 1st Baronet-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987...
. Subsequently he became increasingly absent from Parliament and in the session to August 1849 he failed to be present for all the 219 votes.
Health
In July 1849 a Commission of Lunacy was held to determine the state of mind of John Bell, the sitting MP for Thirsk. A succession of witnesses were called, each of whom testified concerning Bell's mental state, repeating his belief that he was a bird. Bell also told his relatives and acquaintances that, while he was a bird, he could fly much better than a bird, because he kept his shoulders oiled. After the medical witnesses unanimously agreed that Bell was totally incompetent of caring for himself, the jury returned its verdict that Bell was of unsound mind.Despite this, it was found impossible to remove him from his seat and he continued as the Member for Thirsk until his death in 1851. It was only with the passing of the Lunacy (Vacating of Seats) Act 1886
Lunacy (Vacating of Seats) Act 1886
The Lunacy Act 1886 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It provided a mechanism for a Member of Parliament who was judged to be of unsound mind to be removed from his seat.-Background:...
that it was possible to remove MPs who were of unsound mind.