James Bell (New Hampshire politician)

James Bell (November 13, 1804 – May 26, 1857) was an American politician and a United States Senator from New Hampshire from 1855 until his death in 1857.

James Bell
United States senator from New Hampshire
In office July 30, 1855 – May 26, 1857
Preceded by	John S. Wells
Succeeded by	Daniel Clark
Member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives
In office 1846–1850
Personal details
Born	(1804-11-13)November 13, 1804 Francestown, New Hampshire
Died	May 26, 1857(1857-05-26) (aged 52) Laconia, New Hampshire
Political party	Whig Oppositionist Republican
Spouse(s)	Judith A. Upham Bell
Children	Mary A. Bell White Eliza U. Bell Lucy Bell James Dana Bell Charles Upham Bell
Alma mater	Bowdoin College Litchfield Law School
Profession	Politician Lawyer

Early life

Born in Francestown, New Hampshire, Bell graduated from Bowdoin College in 1822, studied law at Litchfield Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 1825 and began practice in Gilmanton, New Hampshire.[1]

Career

From 1831 to 1846 Bell practiced in Exeter, and was a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 1846 to 1850. He was a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1850, and ran unsuccessfully for Governor of New Hampshire in 1854 and 1855.

Elected as a Republican in July 1855, replacing John S. Wells, who had been appointed following the death of Moses Norris, Jr.. Bell served in the United States Senate during the Thirty-fourth United States Congress from July 30, 1855 until his death in 1857.[2]

Death and legacy

Bell died in Laconia, New Hampshire on May 26, 1857 (age 52 years, 194 days). He is interred at the Exeter Cemetery in Exeter, New Hampshire. There is a cenotaph in his honor at the Congressional Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

Family life

The son of Samuel Bell and Mehitable Dana Bell, he was the uncle of Samuel Newell Bell and the cousin of Charles Henry Bell. He married Judith A. Upham in 1831 and they had five children, Mary A. Bell White, Eliza U. Bell, Lucy Bell, James Dana Bell, and Charles Upham Bell.[3]

See also

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1790–1899)

References

1. "James Bell". Litchfield Historical Society. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
2. Capace, Nancy (January 1, 2001). Encyclopedia of New Hampshire. North American Book Dist LLC, January 1, 2001 - New Hampshire. p. 412.
3. Stearns, Witcher, Parker, Ezra, William, Edward (1908). Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation, Volume 4. Lewis Publishing Company. p. 2005.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links

• United States Congress. "James Bell (id: B000337)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Portraits of State and National Legislators and Others On the First Floor of The State House: James Bell
• James Bell at Find a Grave

Party political offices
Preceded by Thomas E. Sawyer	Whig nominee for Governor of New Hampshire 1853, 1854, 1855	Succeeded by Ichabod Goodwin
U.S. Senate
Preceded by John S. Wells	U.S. senator (Class 3) from New Hampshire 1855 – 1857 Served alongside: John P. Hale	Succeeded by Daniel Clark