This article is about the former Pennsylvania Attorney General. For his son, the former Pennsylvania Governor, see John C. Bell Jr. For other people named John Bell, see John Bell (disambiguation).
John Cromwell Bell (October 3, 1861 – December 29, 1935) was a distinguished Pennsylvania lawyer, serving as a District Attorney for Philadelphia and state Attorney General.
He was closely involved with football and his alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania. He served as director of Penn's athletic program, chairman of its football committee, and from 1911 onwards, was a trustee. He helped found the NCAA, and served on Intercollegiate Football Rules Committee, responsible for the many rules changes made in collegiate football in its early years.[2][3][4][5]
His family moved to Philadelphia when he was fourteen.[6] Bell attended Central High, graduating in 1880 (with an A.B.)[6] and then the University of Pennsylvania Law School, receiving an LL.B. in 1884.[7] At Penn, he played halfback on the football team for three years.
He married Fleurette de Benneville Keim Myers, daughter of Leonard Myers, a former Congressman, in 1890.[8] They had two sons. The elder, John Cromwell, had a distinguished career as attorney, governor, and judge. The younger, de Benneville, known as Bert, had a distinguished career as football team owner and NFL commissioner.
Career
Bell achieved prominence as an attorney very quickly, and he was noted for his corporate work.[6][9] He was offered a judgeship, but declined.[6]
When in 1902 sitting Philadelphia District Attorney John Weaver won election as the city's mayor, Bell accepted the appointment to take his place, and then ran for and won a term on his own, but declined a renomination. As District Attorney, he was noted for enforcement of food purity laws.[6] He gave the annual address before the Law Academy of Philadelphia: The Several Modes of Instituting Criminal Proceedings in Pennsylvania. An Address...before the Law Academy of Philadelphia, May 27, 1904. (Philadelphia, Dukes, 1904) that gave a useful detailed discussion of how a person might be indicted for criminal proceedings in early twentieth-century Philadelphia.
In 1911, Governor John K. Tener appointed Bell as state Attorney General. Upon completing his term, Bell returned to private practice.
Bell died of heart disease in 1935.
Further reading
Charles Franklin Warwick (1913). Warwick's Keystone Commonwealth. pp. 397–8. john c bell.
Smull, John Augustus; Smull, William P.; Cochran, Thomas Baumgardner; Harry Baker, W. (1913). Smull's Legislative Hand Book and Manual of the State of Pennsylvania. p. 182g.
Samuel Hudson (1909). Pennsylvania and its public men. p. 81. John C. Bell.
Thomas Lynch Montgomery, ed. (1918). Pennsylvania and its University and other Addresses of John Cromwell Bell.
General Alumni Catalogue of the University of Pennsylvania. 1922. p. 435.
"John C. Bell dead, was leader of Bar". New York Times. December 30, 1935. p. 19.
References
^Some sources, including the New York Times obituary and the University of Pennsylvania, state or imply 1861. His "official" state biography in The Pennsylvania Manual while he was state Attorney General gives 1862.
^"How the Game of Football is Now Played". Chicago Daily Tribune. September 20, 1896. p. 33. ProQuest 175490739.
^"Football Rules Revised". Washington Post. April 30, 1900. p. 8. ProQuest 144200114.
^"Football Solons Meet to Adopt Rules Today". New York Times. January 27, 1908. p. 7. ProQuest 96606824.
^"Forward Pass to be Changed Today". New York Times. January 25, 1908. p. 7. ProQuest 96837470.
john, bell, lawyer, this, article, about, former, pennsylvania, attorney, general, former, pennsylvania, governor, john, bell, other, people, named, john, bell, john, bell, disambiguation, john, cromwell, bell, october, 1861, december, 1935, distinguished, pen. This article is about the former Pennsylvania Attorney General For his son the former Pennsylvania Governor see John C Bell Jr For other people named John Bell see John Bell disambiguation John Cromwell Bell October 3 1861 December 29 1935 was a distinguished Pennsylvania lawyer serving as a District Attorney for Philadelphia and state Attorney General John Cromwell BellFrom a portrait by Julian Story c 1918District Attorney of PhiladelphiaIn office 1903 1907Preceded byJohn WeaverSucceeded bySamuel P Rotan45th Attorney General of PennsylvaniaIn office January 17 1911 January 19 1915GovernorJohn K TenerPreceded byMoses Hampton ToddSucceeded byFrancis Shunk BrownPersonal detailsBornOctober 3 1861 1 Elders Ridge West Lebanon Indiana County PennsylvaniaDiedDecember 29 1935 aged 74 PhiladelphiaSpouseFleurette de Benneville Keim MyersChildrenJohn C Bell Jr De Benneville Bert BellAlma materUniversity of PhiladelphiaHe was closely involved with football and his alma mater the University of Pennsylvania He served as director of Penn s athletic program chairman of its football committee and from 1911 onwards was a trustee He helped found the NCAA and served on Intercollegiate Football Rules Committee responsible for the many rules changes made in collegiate football in its early years 2 3 4 5 Contents 1 Personal life 2 Career 3 Further reading 4 ReferencesPersonal life EditHis family moved to Philadelphia when he was fourteen 6 Bell attended Central High graduating in 1880 with an A B 6 and then the University of Pennsylvania Law School receiving an LL B in 1884 7 At Penn he played halfback on the football team for three years He married Fleurette de Benneville Keim Myers daughter of Leonard Myers a former Congressman in 1890 8 They had two sons The elder John Cromwell had a distinguished career as attorney governor and judge The younger de Benneville known as Bert had a distinguished career as football team owner and NFL commissioner Career EditBell achieved prominence as an attorney very quickly and he was noted for his corporate work 6 9 He was offered a judgeship but declined 6 When in 1902 sitting Philadelphia District Attorney John Weaver won election as the city s mayor Bell accepted the appointment to take his place and then ran for and won a term on his own but declined a renomination As District Attorney he was noted for enforcement of food purity laws 6 He gave the annual address before the Law Academy of Philadelphia The Several Modes of Instituting Criminal Proceedings in Pennsylvania An Address before the Law Academy of Philadelphia May 27 1904 Philadelphia Dukes 1904 that gave a useful detailed discussion of how a person might be indicted for criminal proceedings in early twentieth century Philadelphia In 1911 Governor John K Tener appointed Bell as state Attorney General Upon completing his term Bell returned to private practice Bell died of heart disease in 1935 Further reading EditCharles Franklin Warwick 1913 Warwick s Keystone Commonwealth pp 397 8 john c bell Smull John Augustus Smull William P Cochran Thomas Baumgardner Harry Baker W 1913 Smull s Legislative Hand Book and Manual of the State of Pennsylvania p 182g Samuel Hudson 1909 Pennsylvania and its public men p 81 John C Bell Thomas Lynch Montgomery ed 1918 Pennsylvania and its University and other Addresses of John Cromwell Bell General Alumni Catalogue of the University of Pennsylvania 1922 p 435 John C Bell dead was leader of Bar New York Times December 30 1935 p 19 References Edit Some sources including the New York Times obituary and the University of Pennsylvania state or imply 1861 His official state biography in The Pennsylvania Manual while he was state Attorney General gives 1862 How the Game of Football is Now Played Chicago Daily Tribune September 20 1896 p 33 ProQuest 175490739 Football Rules Revised Washington Post April 30 1900 p 8 ProQuest 144200114 Football Solons Meet to Adopt Rules Today New York Times January 27 1908 p 7 ProQuest 96606824 Forward Pass to be Changed Today New York Times January 25 1908 p 7 ProQuest 96837470 a b c d e Warwick p 397 General Alumni Catalogue p 435 Warwick p 398 Hudson p 81 Legal officesPreceded byMoses Hampton Todd Pennsylvania Attorney General1911 1915 Succeeded byFrancis Shunk Brown Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John C Bell lawyer amp oldid 1084711634, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
