Samuel Bell

Samuel Bell (February 9, 1770December 23, 1850) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the eighth governor of New Hampshire from 1819 to 1823, and as the United States Senator for New Hampshire from 1823 to 1835. Early life and education Samuel Bell was born on February 9, 1770, in Londonderry, New Hampshire, to John and Mary Ann (Gilmore) Bell. Until he was eighteen, Bell worked on his father's farm, and was educated at common schools during winter seasons. Wishing to undertake higher education, Bell began studying Latin in April 1788, and later enrolled at the New Ipswich Academy. From October 1790 to April 1791, he was a teacher in Londonderry, and in the May following entered the sophomore class at Dartmouth College. Graduating in 1793, Bell proceeded to study law and was admitted to the Hillsborough bar in September 1796, after which he worked as a lawyer in Francestown, New Hampshire. Career Early career Bell first entered politics when he became a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1804; he was re-elected in the two following years, during both he was the Speaker of the House. In 1806, he became the President of The Bank of Hillsborough, but by the end of his tenure in that position in 1810, it was the only New Hampshire bank to fail between 1792 and 1840. Bell was offered to become the New Hampshire Attorney General in 1807, but declined because he felt the salary was too small. He was a member of the New Hampshire Senate from 1807 to 1809, and was the President of that body during those two years, and from 1809 to 1811 was in the Executive Council of New Hampshire. Bell was appointed to be the trustee of Dartmouth College from 1808 to 1811. However, in 1809, due to a severe lung problem which showed the signs of tuberculosis, he was advised by his doctors to take an extended vacation away from the practice of law and to travel, which he did according to The American Quarterly Review; also according to this source, Bell spent parts of several following years traveling to relatively distant areas, primarily on horseback, which gradually recovered his health. However, the Biographical Director of the Library of Congress says that Bell continued practicing law between 1810 and 1812, moving to Amherst in 1810 and to Chester at those respective times.