John C. Bell, Jr.

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

Early years

John Bell graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied law. Already there fell on his athletic ability. He was a good football and tennis player. After school, he went on playing tennis. In the 1920s and 1930s, he was among the top ten tennis players of the United States.

Public offices

Between 1919 and 1922, Bell was deputy attorney for the city of Philadelphia and from 1922 to 1925 he was deputy district attorney. After all, he was from 1938 to 1943 Bank Officer (State Secretary of Banking) of the Government of Pennsylvania. In 1942 he was elected as a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor of his state. This office he held between January 1943 and January 2, 1947. On this day, the incumbent Governor Edward Martin resigned to take up his seat in the U.S. Senate. John Bell had to end until January 21, 1947 before he handed the office to the already chosen the new Governor James H. Duff, the remaining three weeks of Martin's tenure.

Three years later, Bell was then appointed by Governor Duff as a judge to the Supreme Court of the country. In 1961 he became chairman of that court ( Chief Justice ). This office he held until his retirement in 1972. After the end of his period of the judges, he was special adviser to the district attorney in Montgomery County. He remained in this position until his death in March 1974. John Bell was married to Sarah Andrews Baker, with whom he had five children.