John C. Bell

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John Cromwell Bell Jr. (born October 25, 1892 in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , † March 18, 1974 in Montgomery County , Pennsylvania) was an American politician ( Republican Party ) and in 1947 the 35th governor of the state of Pennsylvania.

Early years

John Bell graduated from the University of Pennsylvania , where he studied law. His athletic talent was already noticed there. He was a good football and tennis player. After school he continued to play tennis. In the 1920s and 1930s he was among the top ten tennis players in the United States.

Public offices

Between 1919 and 1922, Bell served as an associate attorney for the City of Philadelphia, and from 1922 to 1925, he was an assistant district attorney. Eventually he was State Secretary of Banking for the Government of Pennsylvania from 1938 to 1943 . In 1942 he was elected lieutenant governor of his state as a Republican candidate . He held this office between January 1943 and January 2, 1947. On that day the incumbent Governor Edward Martin resigned to take up his mandate in the US Senate. John Bell had to complete the remaining three weeks of Martin's term until January 21, 1947 before he handed over the office to the already elected new Governor James H. Duff .

Three years later, Governor Duff appointed Bell to serve as a judge on the country's Supreme Court. In 1961 he became chairman of this court ( Chief Justice ). He held this office until his retirement in 1972. After the end of his judge's tenure, he became special advisor to the Montgomery County District Attorney. He held this position until his death in March 1974. John Bell was married to Sarah Andrews Baker, with whom he had five children.

literature

  • Robert Sobel and John Raimo (Eds.): Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789–1978. Volume 4, Meckler Books, Westport, 1978. 4 volumes.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Bell, John C.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Bell, John Cromwell Junior (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH October 25, 1892
PLACE OF BIRTH Philadelphia , Pennsylvania
DATE OF DEATH March 18, 1974
Place of death Montgomery County , Pennsylvania