Sir Francis Henry Dillon Bell (1851-1936)

Politician, Prime Minister. Francis Henry Dillon Bell served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from May 14, 1925 to May 30, 1925 after the death of acting Prime Minister William Massey. Born in Nelson, New Zealand, the son of politician Sir Dillon Bell, he excelled in school, attending Otago Boys' High School and Auckland Grammar School before travelling to England where he received a Bachelor of Arts at St. John's College in Cambridge. From 1878 to 1890, Bell served as Crown Solicitor in Wellington and fulfilled the role again from 1902 and 1910 after serving as Mayor of Wellington from 1891 to 1893 and from 1896 to 1897. Bell served as a member of the Legislative Council as well as Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Immigration and Minister of External Affairs. He also served as Attorney-General from 1918 to 1926 and had a ten year role as Commissioner of State Forests. During the later part of William Massey's health decline Bell became acting Prime Minister and was official sworn in four days after Massey's death. He was replaced by Gordon Coates after declining the Reform Party's offer to serve as their Prime Minister. For his services to government Bell was appointed as a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George which was later promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George. Although his role as Prime Minister was brief, Bell was the first New Zealand born Prime Minister of New Zealand to hold office.

Bio by: Thomas Fairweather