John Howatt Bell

Sources

1. Dave Hunter, "The Descendants of James Howat(t), Margaret Symon(d), and M arguerite Ulrich," family history, Dave Hunter, The Island Register (http://www.islandregister.com/howatt.html: accessed )

   accessed; 12 February 2013; Descendancy Register of James Howat

2. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., Wikipedia, The Free Encyclope dia John Howatt Bell (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joh n_Howatt_Bell&oldid=535676491 : accessed )

   accessed; 16 February 2013; John Howatt Bell December 13, 1846 – January 29, 1929

   John Howatt Bell (December 13, 1846 – January 29, 1929) was a lawyer an d politician from Prince Edward Island, and the 14th Premier of Prince E dward Island. Bell was born in Cape Traverse, the son of Walter Bell and Elizabeth Ho watt; he was educated at Prince of Wales College and at Albert College i n Belleville. He studied law, was called to the Ontario bar in 1874 and s et up practice in Ottawa. He moved to Manitoba, was called to the bar t here and set up practice in Emerson. In 1882, he married his first cous in Helen, the daughter of Cornelius Howatt. He returned to Prince Edwar d 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 leg islative assembly as a Liberal. In 1898 he won a seat in the Canadian H ouse of Commons as a supporter of the federal Liberals under Sir Wilfri d Laurier. He lost his seat in 1900 but returned to the provincial asse mbly in 1915 when he was chosen to lead the Liberal Party and became le ader of the opposition. Bell led the Liberals to power in 1919 and beca me Premier. His government extended the province's road system and adop ted a "highway improvement policy" through an unpopular tax that contri buted to the government's unpopularity. His administration also extende d the voting franchise to women in 1922. Bell's government was ridden with disputes within his cabinet which har med the party's unity and popularity and led to his government's electo ral defeat in 1923 after a single term in office. Bell retired from pol itics and died six years later in a car accident in Los Angeles, Califo rnia.

3. Canada, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current. Ancestry.com. Ancestry.ca