Robert Bell (Lanark County politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Bell was a businessman and political figure in Canada West.
He was born in London
, England
in 1808, the son of William Bell, and came to Perth
, Upper Canada
with his family in 1817. He worked as a printer at the Brockville Recorder under William Buell. In 1829, he opened a general store at Carleton Place
and, was postmaster there from 1834 to 1856. He was also later appointed justice of the peace.
In 1842, Bell represented Beckwith Township
on the first council for Bathurst District and he was district warden from 1847 to 1848. In 1850, he served as reeve for Beckwith Township and warden for the United Counties of Lanark and Renfrew. He represented Lanark County
in the Legislative Assembly
from 1848 to 1851 and Lanark North from 1854 to 1864, when he was appointed inspector of canal revenues in the Department of Finance.
He operated a number of businesses at Carleton Place including several mills and was a director of the Brockville and Ottawa Railway and the Canada Central Railway. He also served as lieutenant-colonel in the local militia.
He died at Carleton Place in 1894 and was buried at Perth.
He was born in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1808, the son of William Bell, and came to Perth
Perth, Ontario
Perth is a town in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada . It is located on the Tay River, 83 km southwest of Ottawa, and is the seat of Lanark County.-History:...
, Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
with his family in 1817. He worked as a printer at the Brockville Recorder under William Buell. In 1829, he opened a general store at Carleton Place
Carleton Place, Ontario
Carleton Place is a town in the eastern portion of Eastern Ontario, Canada, in Lanark County, about west of downtown Ottawa. It is located at the crossroads of Highway 15 and Highway 7, halfway between the towns of Perth, Almonte, Smiths Falls, and the nation's capital, Ottawa...
and, was postmaster there from 1834 to 1856. He was also later appointed justice of the peace.
In 1842, Bell represented Beckwith Township
Beckwith, Ontario
Beckwith is a township in eastern Ontario, Canada, in the County of Lanark on the Mississippi River. It is located within Canada's National Capital Region.-Communities:...
on the first council for Bathurst District and he was district warden from 1847 to 1848. In 1850, he served as reeve for Beckwith Township and warden for the United Counties of Lanark and Renfrew. He represented Lanark County
Lanark County, Ontario
Lanark County is a county located in the Canadian province of Ontario. As of 2006, the population is 63,785. Its county seat is Perth.The county took its name from the town of Lanark in Scotland.-Geography:...
in the Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada was the lower house of the legislature for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the...
from 1848 to 1851 and Lanark North from 1854 to 1864, when he was appointed inspector of canal revenues in the Department of Finance.
He operated a number of businesses at Carleton Place including several mills and was a director of the Brockville and Ottawa Railway and the Canada Central Railway. He also served as lieutenant-colonel in the local militia.
He died at Carleton Place in 1894 and was buried at Perth.