Francis Bell (New Zealand politician), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Francis Bell (New Zealand politician)

New Zealand politician

Date of Birth: 31-Mar-1851

Place of Birth: Nelson, Nelson Region, New Zealand

Date of Death: 13-Mar-1936

Profession: lawyer, politician, diplomat, cricketer

Nationality: New Zealand

Zodiac Sign: Aries


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About Francis Bell (New Zealand politician)

  • Sir Francis Henry Dillon Bell (31 March 1851 – 13 March 1936) was a New Zealand lawyer and politician who served as the 20th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 10 to 30 May 1925.
  • He was the first New Zealand-born prime minister, holding office in a caretaker capacity following the death of William Massey. Bell was born in Nelson.
  • His father, Sir Dillon Bell, was also a politician.
  • Bell attended Auckland Grammar School and Otago Boys' High School before going on to St John's College, Cambridge.
  • He returned to New Zealand to practise law, settling in Wellington and eventually becoming president of the New Zealand Law Society.
  • Bell served as Mayor of Wellington from 1891 to 1893 and from 1896 to 1897.
  • He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1893, after two previous defeats, but served only a single term before retiring in 1896 to return to the legal profession. In 1912, Bell was appointed to the Legislative Council as a representative of the Reform Party.
  • In the Reform Government under William Massey, he served as Minister of Internal Affairs (1912–1915), Minister of Immigration (1912–1920), Attorney-General (1918–1926), Minister of Health (1919–1920), and Minister of External Affairs (1923–1926).
  • When Massey died in office in 1925, Bell – aged 74 – was commissioned as his replacement for 16 days while the party elected a new leader (Gordon Coates).
  • Bell retired from politics the following year.
  • Only Henry Sewell served a shorter term as prime minister, and only Walter Nash served as prime minister at a greater age.

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