John Howatt Bell
Encyclopedia
John Howatt Bell was a lawyer and politician
from Prince Edward Island
, and the 14th Premier of Prince Edward Island
.
Bell was born in Cape Traverse, the son of Walter Bell and Elizabeth Howatt; he was educated at Prince of Wales College
and at Albert College
in Belleville
. He studied law, was called to the Ontario bar in 1874 and set up practice in Ottawa
. He moved to Manitoba
, was called to the bar there and set up practice in Emerson
. In 1882, he married his first cousin Helen, the daughter of Cornelius Howatt
. He returned to Prince Edward Island, was called to the bar and set up practice in Summerside
.
Bell entered politics in 1886 when he was elected to the province's legislative assembly
as a Liberal. In 1898 he won a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
as a supporter of the federal Liberals
under Sir Wilfrid Laurier
. He lost his seat in 1900 but returned to the provincial assembly in 1915 when he was chosen to lead the Liberal Party and became leader of the opposition
. Bell led the Liberals to power in 1919 and became Premier
. His government extended the province's road system and adopted a "highway improvement policy" through an unpopular tax that contributed to the government's unpopularity. His administration also extended the voting franchise
to women in 1922.
Bell's government was ridden with disputes within his cabinet
which harmed the party's unity and popularity and led to his government's electoral defeat in 1923 after a single term in office. Bell retired from politics and died six years later in a car accident in Los Angeles, California
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
, and the 14th Premier of Prince Edward Island
Premier of Prince Edward Island
The Premier of Prince Edward Island is the first minister for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. They are the province's head of government and de facto chief executive.The current Premier of Prince Edward Island is Robert Ghiz.-See also:...
.
Bell was born in Cape Traverse, the son of Walter Bell and Elizabeth Howatt; he was educated at Prince of Wales College
Prince of Wales College
Prince of Wales College is a former university college, which was located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. PWC merged with St. Dunstan's University in 1969 to form the University of Prince Edward Island....
and at Albert College
Albert College (Belleville)
Albert College is a co-educational independent boarding school in Belleville, Ontario. It is the oldest co-ed boarding school in Canada. It currently has an enrollment of approximately 300 students representing 25 different countries...
in Belleville
Belleville, Ontario
Belleville is a city located at the mouth of the Moira River on the Bay of Quinte in Southern Ontario, Canada, in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. It is the seat of Hastings County, but is politically independent of it. and the centre of the Bay of Quinte Region...
. He studied law, was called to the Ontario bar in 1874 and set up practice in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
. He moved to Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, was called to the bar there and set up practice in Emerson
Emerson, Manitoba
Emerson is a town in south central Manitoba, Canada, with a population of 655. The town is named after writer Ralph Waldo Emerson.Emerson is located on the east bank of the Red River, just north of the border with the United States at the point where Manitoba, Minnesota, and North Dakota meet. ...
. In 1882, he married his first cousin Helen, the daughter of Cornelius Howatt
Cornelius Howatt
Cornelius Howatt was a farmer and political figure in Prince Edward Island. He represented 4th Prince in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island from 1859 to 1876 as a Conservative member....
. He returned to Prince Edward Island, was called to the bar and set up practice in Summerside
Summerside, Prince Edward Island
Summerside is a Canadian city in Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is the second largest city in the province and the principal municipality for the western part of the island.- History :...
.
Bell entered politics in 1886 when he was elected to the province's legislative assembly
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
as a Liberal. In 1898 he won a seat in the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
as a supporter of the federal Liberals
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
under Sir Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
. He lost his seat in 1900 but returned to the provincial assembly in 1915 when he was chosen to lead the Liberal Party and became leader of the opposition
Leader of the Opposition (PEI)
The Leader of the Opposition in Prince Edward Island is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest party not in government in the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island.This list is incomplete...
. Bell led the Liberals to power in 1919 and became Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
. His government extended the province's road system and adopted a "highway improvement policy" through an unpopular tax that contributed to the government's unpopularity. His administration also extended the voting franchise
Suffrage
Suffrage, political franchise, or simply the franchise, distinct from mere voting rights, is the civil right to vote gained through the democratic process...
to women in 1922.
Bell's government was ridden with disputes within his cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
which harmed the party's unity and popularity and led to his government's electoral defeat in 1923 after a single term in office. Bell retired from politics and died six years later in a car accident in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.