Francis Henry Dillon Bell was born in 1851 the eldest son of the former New Zealand Company agent Francis Dillon Bell. He was educated at Auckland Grammar, Otago Boys, and Cambridge University. He joined his father’s law firm now known as Bell Gully. In 1878 he married Caroline Robinson in Christchurch and they had four daughters and four sons. As a rising lawyer, and son of a former minister, Bell was soon under pressure to enter politics.
He was elected mayor of Wellington in 1891, 1892 and 1896, and he established the city’s first proper rubbish disposal service and drainage scheme. After a brief skirmish with national politics, which he did not enjoy, he focussed on legal matters and became one of the leading lawyers in NZ. Today we know his legal firm as Bell Gully.
He was a close friend of Prime Minister Massey and joined his Ministry from 1912 to 1926 holding many portfolios. When Massey died in office in 1925, Bell – then aged 74 – was formally appointed as Prime Minister while the Reform Party elected a new leader (Gordon Coates was successful).
Bell was at times Crown Solicitor, President of the N.Z. Law Society, King’s Counsel, and a Privy Councillor.
Bell is widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s most outstanding lawyers. But he also had extensive involvement in public affairs including long standing leadership roles in cricket, rugby, racing and with the Freemasons.
He died in 1936 at age 85. Plot Ch Eng/M/1
Sir Francis and Lady Bell