27 Facts About Dillon Bell

Dillon Bell served as New Zealand's third Minister of Finance, and later as its third Speaker of the House.

Bell's son, Francis Henry Dillon Bell, became the first New Zealand born Prime Minister in 1925.

Dillon Bell is believed to have been born in Bordeaux, France, where his father, Edward Dillon Bell, was a merchant and the British consul.

Dillon Bell's mother was Frances Matthews, daughter of Reverend J Matthews.

Dillon Bell grew up speaking both English and French fluently.

Dillon Bell moved around New Zealand considerably, visiting Auckland, Nelson, and the Wairarapa before finally becoming the New Zealand Company's resident agent in New Plymouth.

Later, following the resignation of William Fox as the company's agent in Nelson, Dillon Bell was appointed to this position.

Dillon Bell postponed his journey to Nelson in order to help manage the company's affairs, and Wakefield consequently recommended Dillon Bell as his successor before he died.

Dillon Bell was very bitter at Fox's victory, and it was possibly as a result of this bitterness that Dillon Bell became a strong supporter of Fox's enemy, Governor George Grey.

Dillon Bell's reputation suffered considerably from his association with the Governor and many thought of him as a time-server and a sycophant.

Dillon Bell eventually returned to his company post in Nelson, although the New Zealand Company did not survive long after Wakefield's death.

Dillon Bell joined the Wellington Provincial Council for the Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay electorate and served from November 1853 to February 1856.

Dillon Bell was a member of the Wellington Executive Council from 16 March 1854; the source does not state his end date.

When Henry Sewell became New Zealand's first Premier and formed the Sewell Ministry, Dillon Bell was appointed Colonial Treasurer on 7 May 1856.

Sewell's premiership lasted only two weeks and Dillon Bell lost his position.

Dillon Bell resigned from Parliament on 10 October 1856 and moved to Otago.

Dillon Bell contested a 17 May 1858 by-election against Charles Brown in the Grey and Dillon Bell electorate.

Dillon Bell was re-elected in the 1860 election, and elected as MP for Mataura in the following two elections.

Dillon Bell joined the Otago Provincial Council and represented the electorates of Matau, Dunedin, and Otaramika.

Dillon Bell was relatively experienced in negotiating with Maori, and spoke the Maori language fluently.

When Domett was ousted as Premier by William Fox, Dillon Bell lost both roles.

From 1869 to 1871, Dillon Bell was a minister without portfolio.

Dillon Bell is generally regarded to have been a competent speaker, having few strong views that might have biased him.

In 1880, Dillon Bell was offered a position as Agent-General in London.

Dillon Bell had previously been was awarded the KCMG in 1881 and a CB in 1886.

Apart from one brief visit in 1891, Dillon Bell did not return to New Zealand until 1896, when he retired to a farm in Otago.

Dillon Bell's father, Abraham Hort, was a leading member of the Wellington Jewish community, but she became an ardent Christian.