Joseph M. Bell | |
|---|---|
| President of the Massachusetts Senate | |
| In office 1849 | |
| Preceded by | Zeno Scudder |
| Succeeded by | Marshall Pinckney Wilder |
| Member of the Massachusetts Senate | |
| In office 1848–1849 | |
| Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives | |
| In office 1845–1847 | |
| Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives | |
| In office 1821, 1828–1830 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 21 (or 27), 1787 Bedford, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Died | July 25, 1851(1851-07-25) (aged 64) |
| Political party | Whig |
| Spouse(s) | Catherine Olcott Helen Olcott Choate |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | Dartmouth College |
| Occupation |
|
Joseph M. Bell (March 21, 1787 – July 25, 1851) was aNew Hampshire andMassachusetts lawyer, abolitionist, and politician. Bell served as a member of theNew Hampshire House of Representatives in 1821 and from 1828 to 1830 and theMassachusetts House of Representatives from 1845 to 1847. He served as a member of theMassachusetts Senate from 1848 to 1849 andPresident of the Massachusetts Senate in 1849.
Joseph M. Bell was born on March 21, 1787 (or March 27, 1787), inBedford, New Hampshire to Mary (née Houston) and Joseph Bell.[1][2][3] He graduated fromDartmouth College in 1807.[1][4] He then worked as principal of Haverhill Academy inHaverhill, New Hampshire for one year. He studied law; reading law in the offices of GovernorSamuel Bell, JudgeSamuel Dana and GovernorJeremiah Smith. He wasadmitted to the bar in 1811.[1][3]
Bell worked as a cashier with the Coos Bank and later became the bank president. In 1811, he started a law practice in Haverhill.[1] Bell joined theNew Hampshire Militia, Second Division, around 1818.[3]
Bell was appointed as Solicitor forGrafton County, New Hampshire. He worked in that role from 1815 to 1820.[1][3] He served in theNew Hampshire House of Representatives, representing Haverhill, in 1821 and from 1828 to 1830.[3] Bell ran for U.S. Congress as aWhig in 1835.[1][5] In 1842, Bell moved his law practice toBoston and partnered withHenry F. Durant, founder of Wellesley College.[1] Bell also practiced law with his uncle and father-in-lawRufus Choate.[6]
Bell represented Boston in the General Court from 1844 to 1847.[3] Bell served as a member of theMassachusetts House of Representatives, representingSuffolk County, from 1845 to 1847.[7][8][9] Bell served as a member of theMassachusetts Senate, representing Suffolk County, from 1848 to 1849. He served asPresident of the Massachusetts Senate in 1849.[10][11][12][13]
Bell married Catherine Olcott, daughter of Mills Olcott ofHanover, New Hampshire.[2] Bell married Helen Olcott Choate, daughter of Rufus Choate and niece of his former wife. He had five children, including two daughters.[1][14][15][16] Bell was friends withDaniel Webster.[4]
In December 1821, Bell purchased theWentworth Brown House in Haverhill.[1] Later in life, Bell lived in Boston.[17] He owned property in Massachusetts,Vermont andNew Hampshire.[18]
Bell died on July 25, 1851, atSaratoga Springs, New York, while on vacation with his family.[4][10]
Bell received an honoraryLL.D. degree from Dartmouth College in 1837.[1]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of the Massachusetts Senate 1849 | Succeeded by |
 | This article about a member of theMassachusetts State Senate is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |