Biography

GEORGE BELL

Burial register ID: 8174
Surname: BELL
First name: GEORGE
Middle names:
Gender: Male
Age: 90 Years
Cause of death: Unknown
Burial type:
Date of death: 04-Feb-1899
Date of burial: 06-Feb-1899

Block: 128
Plot: 18
Inscription:

In loving remembrance of

ABIGAIL

Wife of GEORGE BELL,

Who died 15th July 1892.

Aged 78 years.

Also of

GEORGE BELL,

Died 4th February 1899.

Aged 90 years.

Also

ELEANOR

Youngest daughter of

GEORGE & ABIGAIL BELL

Born 28th Dec 1847,

Died 17th Feb 1920.

Also their third daughter

MARY JANE

Died 17th Aug. 1924

Aged 80 years

HANNAH SMITH

4th daughter of

GEORGE & ABIGAIL BELL

Born 13th May 1845

Died 25th July 1934

Bio contributor: Dictionary of New Zealand Biography

Son of John Bell, a customs landing waiter, and Hannah Armitage. Born at Hull, Yorkshire, England, 9 January 1809. Educated at home and at a private school. Apprenticed at 14 to a firm of merchants, becoming accountant and salesman. Subsequently worked for a sugar refining firm in Hull and managed a manufacturing business in Sheffield. Married Abigail Taylor at York, 13 June 1836. The couple had six daughters and a son. Emigrated to Melbourne, Australia, 1852. Became shorthand writer to state parliament and helped establish Hansard coverage in Adelaide.

Hired by Julius Vogel to work on Otago Daily Times in Dunedin, 1863. Sub-edited the Times and edited the Otago Witness until dismissed, with entire editorial staff of the Times, in 1868. Bought the Evening Star, merging it with his own Evening Independent. First issue of Bell’s Evening Star published on 14 June 1869. Also published the Morning Star from December 1872 to July 1873. Retained sole control of the Evening Star until January 1895, continuing to write editorials in his 70s. Fought libel cases against Dunedin lawyer James Macassey and the Catholic Church.

Supported Anti-Corn-Law League as a young man, and may have written a pamphlet on currency reform. Worked in Sunday School administration before leaving England. Treasurer of All Saints’ Church parochial guild and churchwarden, member of Oddfellows lodge, president of New Zealand Institute of Journalists, and active Press Club member. Gazetted Justice of the Peace, 1881. Died at Dunedin, 4 February 1899 aged 90.

From:

Griffiths, George. ‘Bell, George 1809 – 1899’. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 16 December 2003.

URL: http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/
George Bell
Source: Alexander Turnbull Library Reference: NON-ATL-P-0050 Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before re-use of image

There are 4 Interments in this grave:

Surname First names Age Date of death Date of burial
BELL ABIGAIL 78 Years 16-Jul-1892 18-Jul-1892
BELL ELEANOR 72 Years 17-Feb-1920 18-Feb-1920
BELL GEORGE 90 Years 04-Feb-1899 06-Feb-1899
BELL GEORGE S 11 Years 10-Sep-1919 13-Sep-1919