Compiled by Russell Bastedo
State Curator
1998

Governor Samuel Bell 1819-1823. Bell (1770-1850) was born at Londonderry (NH). A graduate of Dartmouth College (Class of 1793), Bell was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar in 1796. He practiced law at Francestown, Amherst and Chester (all Hillsborough County, NH). He was President of The Bank of Hillsborough (1806-1810); the Bank failed during Bell's tenure. It was the only New Hampshire bank to fail between 1792-1840.

Bell began his political career as a State Representative from Francestown (1804-1806). He was elected President of the Senate (1807-1808), and was a member of Governor Smith's Executive Council in 1809. Bell also served as a trustee for Dartmouth College (1808-1811).

In 1816 Bell was appointed Associate Justice of New Hampshire Superior Court. He was elected Governor in 1819, and reelected annually against only token opposition until 1823. In 1823 Bell was elected to the first of two successive terms in the U. S. Senate (served 1823-1835). He died at Chester (NH).

Location: State House, Second Floor, Corridor, West Face, Beginning at Room 208
Portrait a copy (by daughter of Lucy Bell) of original by Hentry Cheever Pratt; Gift to the State, 1866