Robert Bell (Ottawa politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Bell was a surveyor, journalist and political figure in Canada West.
He was born in Ireland
in 1821 and arrived in New York
state with his parents . In 1823, they moved to a farm near Kemptville
, Upper Canada
. He qualified as a land surveyor for the province in 1843. He moved to Bytown
, where he began work as a surveyor. He surveyed the Muskoka
, Haliburton
and Nipissing
areas as part of the government's plan to open up these areas for settlement.
In 1849, he purchased the Bytown Packet newspaper, renamed the Ottawa Citizen
in 1851, from Henry J. Friel
and John George Bell. He helped found the Bytown and Prescott Railway
and later became president. He served on the town council for Bytown and later represented Russell
in the 7th
and 8th Parliament
s for the Province of Canada
.
He died in Hull, Quebec
in 1873.
He was born in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1821 and arrived in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state with his parents . In 1823, they moved to a farm near Kemptville
Kemptville, Ontario
Kemptville is a community located in the Municipality of North Grenville in Southern Ontario, Canada in the northernmost part of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville...
, 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...
. He qualified as a land surveyor for the province in 1843. He moved to Bytown
Bytown
Bytown is the former name of Ottawa, Canada's capital city. It was founded on on September 26, 1826, incorporated as a town on January 1, 1850, and superseded by the incorporation of the City of Ottawa on January 1, 1855. The founding was marked by a sod turning, and a letter from Governor General...
, where he began work as a surveyor. He surveyed the Muskoka
Muskoka District Municipality, Ontario
The District Municipality of Muskoka, more generally referred to as the District of Muskoka, or simply Muskoka, is a Regional Municipality located in Central Ontario, Canada. Muskoka extends from Georgian Bay in the west, to the northern tip of Lake Couchiching in the south, to the western border...
, Haliburton
Haliburton County, Ontario
Haliburton is a county of Ontario, Canada, known as a tourist and cottage area in Central Ontario for its scenery and for its resident artists. Minden Hills is the county seat. Haliburton County was established in 1983, but had existed as the Provisional County of Haliburton since 1874...
and Nipissing
Nipissing District, Ontario
Nipissing District, Ontario is a district in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1858. The district seat is North Bay.In 2006, the population was 84,688...
areas as part of the government's plan to open up these areas for settlement.
In 1849, he purchased the Bytown Packet newspaper, renamed the Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
The Ottawa Citizen is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Canadian Newspaper Association, the paper had a 2008 weekly circulation of 900,197.- History :...
in 1851, from Henry J. Friel
Henry J. Friel
Henry James Friel was mayor of Bytown in 1854 and then of Ottawa in 1863 and 1868-1869.He was born in Montreal of Irish Catholic parents in 1823. His family moved to Bytown, which was later renamed Ottawa, in 1827. In 1846, he purchased the Bytown Packet, a local newspaper, with John George Bell...
and John George Bell. He helped found the Bytown and Prescott Railway
Bytown and Prescott Railway
The Bytown and Prescott Railway, Ottawa's first railway to outside markets, was a railway joining Ottawa, Ontario with Prescott, Ontario on the Saint Lawrence River. The 52 mile railway facilitated shipments of principally lumber via the Saint Lawrence River to markets in the United States and...
and later became president. He served on the town council for Bytown and later represented Russell
Russell County, Ontario
Russell County is a historic county in the Canadian province of Ontario.It was created in 1800 from a portion of Stormont County. It later merged with Prescott County to form Prescott and Russell United Counties....
in the 7th
7th Parliament of the Province of Canada
The 7th Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from 1861 to May 1863. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in 1861. This was the first election in Canada to use a list of eligible voters prepared before the election. All sessions were held in Quebec City...
and 8th Parliament
8th Parliament of the Province of Canada
The 8th Parliament of the Province of Canada was in session from 1863 to July 1866. Elections were held in the Province of Canada in August 1863. Sessions were held in Quebec City until 1866; the last session was held in Ottawa....
s for the Province of Canada
Province of Canada
The Province of Canada, United Province of Canada, or the United Canadas was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham in the Report on the Affairs of British North America following the Rebellions of...
.
He died in Hull, Quebec
Hull, Quebec
Hull is the central and oldest part of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It is located on the west bank of the Gatineau River and the north shore of the Ottawa River, directly opposite Ottawa. As part of the Canadian National Capital Region, it contains offices for twenty thousand...
in 1873.