John Bell

Who was John Bell?

John Bell was governor of the U.S. state of New Hampshire for one year. Samuel Bell, a brother, was the Governor of New Hampshire from 1819 to 1823, and a son, Charles Henry Bell, served as Governor from 1881 to 1883.

John Bell was born on July 20, 1765, in Londonderry, New Hampshire, the son of John and Mary Ann Bell.

He received a limited education by several New Hampshire common schools, and according to the New Hampshire Division of Historical Records, he entered state politics when he became a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1799 for Londonderry. However, the Political Graveyard states that Bell was in the New Hampshire Senate from 1786 to 1790 representing Rockingham County. After he left his position as a representative for Londonderry in 1800, he moved to Chester, and married Persis Thom on December 25, 1803. Together, they would have ten children; the youngest, Charles Henry Bell, served as Governor from 1881 to 1883. In 1803, Bell became a member of the state senate for the 3rd District until 1804. He was also a councilor from 1817 to 1823, and the sheriff for Rockingham County from 1823 to 1828.