James Bell (New Hampshire)

James Bell ( born November 13, 1804 in Francestown, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, † May 26, 1857 in Laconia, New Hampshire ) was an American politician and represented from 1855 until his death in 1857 the State of New Hampshire in the U.S. Senate. He was the son of Samuel Bell, uncle of Samuel Newell Bell and cousin of Charles Henry Bell.

He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1822, then studied law at the Litchfield Law School, and was then admitted as a solicitor in 1825. He then began practicing in Gilmanton. Later he decided to pursue a political career by running for a seat in the House of Representatives from New Hampshire, where he remained following his successful election until 1850. Furthermore, Bell ran unsuccessfully in 1854 for the office of governor of New Hampshire. In the following year he was elected in July in the U.S. Senate, where he served from July 30, 1855 until his death on 26 May 1857.

Bell died in Laconia and was buried in the cemetery of Exeter.