Mathew Bell, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Mathew Bell

Canadian politician

Date of Birth: 01-Jan-0001

Place of Birth: Berwick-upon-Tweed, England, United Kingdom

Date of Death: 24-Jun-1849

Profession: businessperson, politician

Nationality: Canada

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn


Show Famous Birthdays Today, Canada

👉 Worldwide Celebrity Birthdays Today

About Mathew Bell

  • Mathew Bell (1769 – June 24, 1849) was a seigneur, businessman and political figure in Lower Canada.
  • His first name is also sometimes recorded as Matthew. He was born at Berwick-upon-Tweed in England, the son of James Bell, a merchant of 'gentry stock' who served two terms as the town's Mayor.
  • Bell came to Quebec around 1784 and worked as a clerk for merchant John Lees.
  • In 1790, he started an importing business in partnership with David Monro; they owned a store at Quebec and their own ships.
  • When John Lees retired from business in 1791, they became agents for Alexander and George Davison, who were suppliers to the British troops in North America.
  • Bell and Monro also managed the king's posts on the north shore of the lower Saint Lawrence River and, in 1793, held a share in the lease of the Saint-Maurice ironworks.
  • In 1799, after the death of George Davison, they became sole holders of the lease of the ironworks. In 1799, Bell was named a justice of the peace.
  • He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Lower Canada for Saint-Maurice in 1800.
  • He was elected for Trois-Rivières in 1809 and again in 1810, generally supporting the English party.
  • During the War of 1812, he served as a captain in the local militia and formed a volunteer cavalry unit at Quebec.
  • Bell served as master of Trinity House of Quebec from 1814 to 1816.
  • His partner David Monro retired in 1815 and he took on John Stewart as a partner in the firm.
  • In 1817, with Monro, Bell bought the seigneury of Champlain; he acquired the seigneuries of Hertel and Mont-Louis on his own.
  • Bell also acquired large amounts of property in the townships.
  • In 1823, he was named to the Legislative Council and served until the suspension of the constitution following the Lower Canada Rebellion.
  • In 1829, he moved his home to Trois-Rivières to be closer to the ironworks.
  • During the rebellion, he organized the defence against the Patriotes in the region.
  • Bell was invited to serve on the Special Council that governed the province after the rebellion but did not accept the offer. In 1846, the government sold the Saint-Maurice ironworks; Bell lost to Henry Stuart in the bidding.
  • He retired to Trois-Rivières, where he died in 1849. He married Anne Mackenzie (1781–1837), daughter of James Mackenzie, merchant of Montreal.
  • Their daughter Catherine married Edward Greive, who represented Trois-Rivières in the legislative assembly of the Province of Canada.
  • His daughter Margaret married William Walker, who served on the legislative council.
  • His daughter Ann, married merchant John George Irvine and was the mother of George Irvine, who was a lawyer, judge and served in both the federal and provincial legislatures.

Read more at Wikipedia

See Also