Francis Jardine "Frank" Bell (January 28, 1840February 13, 1927) was a Canadian-born American
politician. He was the
sixth Governor of
Nevada. He was a member of the
Republican Party
Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party.
Republican Party may also refer to:
Africa
*Republican Party (Liberia)
* Republican Part ...
.
Biography
Bell was born on January 28, 1840, in
Toronto, in the province of
Upper Canada (a
British colony
The British Overseas Territories (BOTs), also known as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), are fourteen territories with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom. They are the last remnants of the former Bri ...
at the time;
Confederation would not be achieved until another 27 years after his birth). He was educated in the common schools of his native country. He was a distant cousin to Alexander Graham Bell. He married Mary Poore on July 9, 1872 in
Reno, Nevada and they had two children.
Career
Bell came to Nevada in 1858, to supervise the construction of a transcontinental
telegraph line though the state from Utah to California. He worked on this project until 1860. Later, Bell became a telegraph operator and was one of operators who telegraphed Nevada's
Constitution to
Washington D.C. in 1864.
Bell served as warden of the Nevada State Prison from 1883 to 1887. In 1889, he was appointed the eighth
lieutenant governor
A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...
by
Charles C. Stevenson
Charles Clark Stevenson (February 20, 1826 – September 21, 1890) was an American politician. He was the List of Governors of Nevada, fifth Governor of Nevada. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party.
Biography ...
. He became acting governor when Governor Stevenson signed a disability certificate on September 1, 1890, making him Nevada's first foreign-born governor. During his tenure, he continued to carry out the policies of the Stevenson administration.
Bell did not seek a full term, serving until the inauguration of
Roswell K. Colcord
Roswell Keyes Colcord (April 25, 1839 – October 30, 1939) was an American politician who served as the List of Governors of Nevada, seventh Governor of Nevada from 1891 to 1895. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican ...
in 1891. He then returned to his work in the telephone and telegraph field. He continued to be politically active. He served as Warden of the Nevada State Prison from 1893 to 1895 and as justice of the peace from 1905 to 1909.
Death
Bell died on February 13, 1927, in his daughter's home in
Oakland, California, at the age of 87. He is interred at Masonic Memorial Gardens in
Reno, Nevada.
See also
*
List of U.S. state governors born outside the United States
References
External links
*
BiographyNevada Culture.org
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Frank
1840 births
1927 deaths
Pre-Confederation Canadian emigrants to the United States
Republican Party governors of Nevada
Lieutenant Governors of Nevada
Politicians from Toronto