Francis Bell | |
|---|---|
 Bellc. 1924 | |
| 20thPrime 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 Rutherfurd Blair |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1851-03-31)31 March 1851 Nelson, New Zealand |
| Died | 13 March 1936(1936-03-13) (aged 84) Wellington, New Zealand |
| Political party | Reform |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 8, including: Cheviot Bell William Bell |
| Parent(s) | SirDillon Bell Margaret (Hort), Lady Bell |
| Relatives | Arthur Bell (brother) Brenda Bell (niece) |
Sir Francis Henry Dillon BellGCMG PC KC (31 March 1851 – 13 March 1936) was a New Zealand lawyer and politician who served as the 20thprime minister of New Zealand from 14 to 30 May 1925. He was the first New Zealand-born prime minister, holding office in a caretaker capacity following the death ofWilliam Massey.[1]
The secondJewish person to become prime minister, Bell was born inNelson. His father, SirDillon Bell, was also a politician. Bell attendedAuckland Grammar School andOtago Boys' High School before going on toSt John's College, Cambridge. He returned to New Zealand to practise law, settling inWellington and eventually becoming president of theNew Zealand Law Society. Bell served asMayor of Wellington from 1891 to 1893 and from 1896 to 1897. He was elected to theHouse of Representatives in 1893, after two previous defeats, but served only a single term before retiring in 1896 to return to the legal profession.
In 1912, Bell was appointed to theLegislative Council as a representative of theReform Party. In theReform Government under William Massey, he served as Minister of Internal Affairs (1912–1915), Minister of Immigration (1912–1920), Attorney-General (1918–1926), Minister of Health (1919–1920), and Minister of External Affairs (1923–1926). When Massey died in office in 1925, Bell – aged 74 – was commissioned as his replacement for 16 days while the party elected a new leader (Gordon Coates). Bell retired from politics the following year. OnlyHenry Sewell served a shorter term as prime minister, and onlyWalter Nash served as prime minister at a greater age.
Bell was born inNelson, the eldest son of SirDillon Bell. His mother was Margaret Hort (who was Jewish, but became a Christian).Arthur Bell was a younger brother. He attendedAuckland Grammar School andOtago Boys' High School. At Otago Boys he was theDux.[1] After finishing high school, he travelled to England where he attendedSt John's College, Cambridge, receiving a BA in 1873.[2] On returning to New Zealand, he began practising law inWellington, being involved inBell, Gully, MacKenzie and Evans.[1] As a youth in the 1870s, he also played twofirst-class cricket matches forWellington.[3]
Bell served as Crown Solicitor in Wellington from 1878 to 1890, and from 1902 to 1910. He was a prominent member of both the local and nationallaw societies. He served as thelatter's president from 1901 to 1918.[1]
He married Caroline Robinson on 24 April 1878 atSt John's Church inChristchurch. She was the third daughter ofWilliam Robinson.[4] They had four daughters and four sons. His sonWilliam Henry Dillon Bell (1884–1917) was a Member of Parliament, but resigned and volunteered for service in World War I. He was killed in 1917.[5][6] Another sonCheviot Bell was appointed to theLegislative Council as a member of thesuicide squad by theFirst National Government on 27 July 1950 to vote for the abolition of the council, so served to 31 December 1950.[7]
His niece and nephew, by his brother Alfred,Brenda andFrank Bell, became notable radio pioneers.[8]
| Years | Term | Electorate | Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1893–1896 | 12th | Wellington | Independent | ||
His political career began with being electedMayor of Wellington in 1891, 1892 and 1896.[1] In his firstgeneral election in1890, he was defeated running as an independent for theCity of Wellington electorate.[9] He was narrowly defeated byWilliam McLean in an1892 by-election by 3388 votes to 3245.[10] He finally enteredParliament in the1893 election, serving for one term.[11]
In 1912, theReform Party came to power, and on 10 July 1912 Bell was appointed to theLegislative Council.[7] He becameMinister of Internal Affairs (1912–1915),[12] and Minister of Immigration (1912–1920).[13] He wasAttorney-General (1918–1926).[14] He was the firstCommissioner of State Forests, and from 1923 he would also serve as theMinister of External Affairs.[15]
He represented New Zealand at theLeague of Nations in 1922. He would also attend the allied conferences atGenoa andthe Hague.
Having been appointed aKnight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George on 3 June 1915,[16] Bell was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the same order in the1923 New Year Honours.[17] He was appointed to thePrivy Council on 1 February 1926.[18]
On returning to New Zealand, Bell became acting prime minister whileWilliam Massey was in London. Massey's health began to fail, and Bell took over most of his roles. He officially became prime minister on 14 May 1925 after Massey's death on 10 May. He served as prime minister for the next 16 days. Bell declined theparty's offer to becomeprime minister and was replaced byGordon Coates.
After giving up his portfolios in 1926, he returned to theLeague of Nations withCoates.
In 1935, he was awarded theKing George V Silver Jubilee Medal.[19]
Bell's wife, Caroline (born 1853), died inWellington on 8 September 1935. Bell died in Wellington on 13 March 1936.
Bell Road in Wellington is named after him.[20]
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of New Zealand 1925 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Mayor of Wellington 1892–1893 1897 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Succeeded by | |
| Preceded by | Attorney-General 1918–1926 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Education 1919–1920 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Public Health 1919–1920 | |
| Preceded by | Minister of Justice 1923 | |
| Minister of Police 1923 | ||
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Wellington 1893–1896 Served alongside:Robert Stout, John Duthie | Succeeded by George Fisher, Robert Stout,John Hutcheson |
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