He was born at
Paisley on 11 February 1804, the son of John Bell and elder brother to
Alexander Montgomerie Bell. He was educated at Paisley Grammar School then studied law at the
University of Glasgow. He was called to the Edinburgh bar in 1825, and from 1830 to 1846 assisted, with conspicuous ability, in conducting the court of session reports. He lived at 4 Forres Street on Edinburgh's Moray Estate. In 1847 he was appointed an advocate-depute, and in 1861 sheriff of Kincardine. He died from the effects of an accident (he fell from his horse) 16 October 1862. He is buried with his family in the southern section of
St Cuthberts Churchyard in Edinburgh. ==Publications==