Latest News About Francis Dillon Bell

Updated 2026-05-10 13:03

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Direct answer

Francis Dillon Bell (often called Dillon Bell) was a notable 19th–early 20th century New Zealand politician and colonial administrator. If you’re looking for the very latest news about him, there may be limited current events tied to him specifically, but there are recent archival or commemorative references in New Zealand historical sources.

Where to look for the latest information

New Zealand digital archives and libraries: Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, and DigitalNZ often have up-to-date or newly digitized material about historical figures like Bell [Te Ara entries and DigitalNZ records are common sources for recent notices or republished materials].
Local New Zealand newspapers’ online archives: Trove (Australia) and Papers Past (NZ) can include recent tributes, reprints of biographical pieces, or scholarly articles about Bell.
Academic and museum collections: University libraries, the Fletcher Trust Collection, and regional museums may publish updated biographies or digitized letters and documents related to Bell.

Illustrative quick facts

Bell played significant roles in early New Zealand government and land negotiation history; his career touched parliament, executive government, and colonial administration [Biographical sketches and encyclopedia entries are commonly cited sources].
He is often noted for his long lifespan among colonial-era leaders and for holding various offices during a formative period in New Zealand politics, including brief periods as a minister and acting prime minister in earlier decades [biographical sources].

Would you like me to search for the latest online articles or provide a short bibliography of reliable sources to verify the most recent references? If you have a preferred region (e.g., New Zealand archives) or format (news articles vs. scholarly papers), tell me and I’ll tailor the recommendations.

Sources

Francis Henry Dillon Bell | Record | DigitalNZ - Digital New Zealand

From Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage: Sir Francis Bell was PM for only 16 days, but he held several distinctions – the second oldest (74), the first New Zealand-born, and the last from the Legislative Council.

digitalnz.org

Francis Dillon Bell: The Bell Block

When negotiations failed Bell had no choice but to take up the post of company resident agent at New Plymouth, where his role was to acquire land as well as distributing that already purchased by Donald McLean. Governor George Grey travelled to New Plymouth to aid negotiations and Bell managed to buy a block of 1500 acres from the Puketapu hapū, which came to be known as the Bell Block, as well as 12,000 acres at Ōmata. In 1849, Bell married Margaret Hort in a civil union. The daughter of a...

terangiaoaonunui.pukeariki.com

BELL, Sir Francis Henry Dillon, P.C., G.C.M.C., K.C.

In 1966 the first encyclopedia of New Zealand was published in three thick volumes. An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand was a critical and publishing success at the time, and has been used as a basic reference work about the country since then. We are proud to make it available online.

teara.govt.nz

Bell, Sir Francis Henry Dillon | Encyclopedia.com

BELL, SIR FRANCIS HENRY DILLONBELL, SIR FRANCIS HENRY DILLON (1851–1936). New Zealand politician and prime minister. Francis ("Harry") Bell was the son of a Protestant father and a Jewish mother, Margaret Hort. His Jewish background was well known in his lifetime. Source for information on Bell, Sir Francis Henry Dillon: Encyclopaedia Judaica dictionary.

www.encyclopedia.com

Biography: Bell, Francis Dillon

Francis Dillon Bell, usually called Dillon, is said to have been born in France on 8 October 1822. His father, Edward Bell, was a merchant and the British consul at Bordeaux. His mother, Frances, was the daughter of an Anglican clergyman, the Reverend J. Matthews. Dillon Bell was tutored at home in Latin, Greek, German, painting and music, and grew up speaking French as fluently as English. However, by the time he was 14 his family was in financial difficulties and he had no chance of further...