Robert Bell (March 16, 1808 – April 2, 1894) was a businessman and political figure inCanada West.
He was born in London, England in 1808, the son ofWilliam Bell, and came toPerth,Upper Canada with his family in 1817. He worked as a printer at theBrockville Recorder underWilliam Buell. In 1829, he opened a general store atCarleton Place as a partnership with his brotherWilliam's Perth business. He was postmaster at Carleton Place from 1834 to 1856. He was also later appointedjustice of the peace.
In 1842, Bell representedBeckwith Township on the first council forBathurst District and he was district warden from 1847 to 1848. In 1850, he served as reeve for Beckwith Township and warden for theUnited Counties of Lanark and Renfrew. He representedLanark County in theLegislative Assembly from 1848 to 1851 and Lanark North from 1854 to 1864, when he was appointed inspector of canal revenues in theDepartment of Finance.
He operated a number of businesses at Carleton Place including several mills and was a director of theBrockville and Ottawa Railway and theCanada Central Railway. He also served as lieutenant-colonel in the local militia.
He died at Carleton Place in 1894 and was buried at Perth.