Sir Francis Henry Dillon Bell

The first Prime Minister to be born in New Zealand, Bell was born in Nelson in 1851. He was educated at Auckland Grammar School, and later Otago Boy’s High School, where he was dux for four years. Bell later went on to St John’s College, Cambridge, where he graduated BA in 1872. He also studied law at Middle Temple, and in 1874 began practicing law in Wellington.

Bell quickly rose on the ranks of the legal society in New Zealand, and was crown solicitor in Wellington from 1878 to 1911. He was also President of the Wellington Law society, and went on to become President of the New Zealand Law Society from 1901 to 1918.

Bell’s public life started as Mayor of Wellington, in 1891, 1892 and 1997. Bell first contested a parliamentary election standing as an Independent for Wellington City in 1890. He was defeated, and when one of the successful opponents later resigned from parliament, Bell attempted the seat again, only to be beaten. At the 1893 general election he was successful, and stayed in Parliament until the end of the term, in 1896. Although he was now out of Parliament, Bell had a close friendship with Massey.

When the Reform party came into power in 1912, Bell was called to the Legislative Council and became a member of the ministry, his portfolios being Internal Affairs and Immigration. He held these portfolios until 1915 when, under the formation of the National Government, he was at first appointed Minister of Immigration. Bell was later appointed as Attorney-General in 1918, a position which he held continuously under both Massey and Coates until 1926.

In 1922 Bell was able to fulfill a long-held dream by visiting Europe and representing New Zealand at the allied conferences at Genoa and the Hague and at the assembly of the League of Nations. Bell was promoted to G.C.M.G. in 1923 and was created a privy councillor in the same year.

Back in Parliament in 1923 Bell was acting-Prime Minister during the absence of Massey in London. When Massey’s health failed towards the end of 1924 Bell was a virtual head of Government, and after Massey’s death Bell became Prime Minister. He remained Prime Minister from 14 May to 30 May 1925. This was merely to enable the party to elect a new leader, and Bell declined his colleagues’ offer to remain as Prime Minister until the next election.

In January 1926 Bell surrendered his departmental duties. He accompanied Coates to attend the League of Nations in Geneva, but still remained on the executive.

Bell died on 13 March 1936.