Charles J. Bell (businessman)

Charles James Bell (April 12, 1858–October 2, 1929)[1] was an Irish-born Canadian and American businessman, first cousin of Alexander Graham Bell, son-in-law of Gardiner Greene Hubbard, nephew of Alexander Melville Bell[2] and brother of Chichester Bell. He was a co-founder of the National Geographic Society.

Charles J. Bell

Biography

Bell was born on April 12, 1858 in Dublin, Ireland,[3] to Professor David Charles Bell (1817–1903) and Ellen Adine Highland.[1] He attended Wesley College before emigrating to Canada in 1873.

He moved to Washington DC in 1880 to be his cousin's secretary in the new Bell Telephone Company. In 1881 he traveled to Paris to set up branches of the company in Europe.

National Geographic Society

In 1888 Bell co-founded the National Geographic Society, and was its first treasurer. He bought the property for the headquarters of the society, where it still is.

Personal life

In 1881, Bell married Roberta Hubbard,[1] daughter of Gardiner Greene Hubbard. She died giving childbirth in 1885, and after her death Bell married her sister Grace Hubbard.[1]

By his first wife Roberta, his children were:

By his second wife Grace (sister of Roberta), his children were:

  • Gardiner Hubbard Bell (1890–1892)
  • Charles James Bell (1891–1892)
  • Robert Wolcott Bell (1893–1977)

He died on October 2, 1929.[1]

gollark: I mean, I agree with the sentiment, but your reasoning is terrible.
gollark: So you won't mind if I orbital-laser-strike you for no reason.
gollark: That might very well kill the prions, but unfortunately it will also kill whoever they happen to be in.
gollark: The answer is 3, of course.
gollark: Other body parts have protein in them too though.

References
  1. Ancestry.com Historical Person Overview: Charles James Bell. Retrieved May 2017
  2. Hunter, Cathy (June 8, 2012). "Charles J. Bell: Family Banker and National Geographic Founder". National Geographic. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012.
  3. "Bell, Charles James" . Thoms Irish Whos Who . Dublin: Alexander Thom and Son Ltd. 1923. p. 15  – via Wikisource.
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