Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/282

 BELL.

BELL.

of thou.'vinds of dollars \rerp spent in defend- inj,' the validity of the patent and in im)so- cuting infringers. Mr. liell invented in IH^ST his photophone. an instrument by means of which a vibraton." beam of light is substituted for a wire in conveying si>eech. and he subsequently devoted much time and study to tlie subject of multiplex telegraphy, and to that of recording speech by means of photognipliing the vibrations of a jet of water, by imjiarting its vibrations to a beam of light. In conjunction with C. Smnner Tainter and Dr. Chichester Bt-U, he made improvements in the recording and reproduction of sp)eech, as embodied in the graphophone. Mr. Bell was elected a meml>er of various scientific associations and contributed many valuable papers on var- ious scientific subjects. As a member of the National academy of sciences he contributed an elalx>rate memoir on the threatened " Formation of a Deaf Variety of the Hvunan PJace." In 1890 he founded an association of articulation teachers of the deaf, the first convention of which was held at Lake George, N. Y., in June, 1891. He estab- li.shed the Volta bureau in Washington, D. C, as a i^ermanent centre of information on all subjects relating to the deaf and dumb. He was mar- ried to Miss Hul)bard, a deaf-mute whom he had educated. He received the degree LL.D. from Harvard, .and from Illinois college in 18%, and Litt. D. from Amherst in 1901.

BELL, Alexander Melville, educator, was born at Edinlmrgh, Scotland. March 1, 1819; son of Alexander Bell (bom 1790, died 1865), who was a teacher of speech and vocal physiology in Lt)n- don, and author of a treatise for the cure of stam- mering, and brother of David Charles Bell, who followed the family profes-sion in Dublin, Ireland, while he occupied the field in Edinburgh, Scot- land. He lectured in Edinburgh, in connection with the university, and also with New college, from 1843 to Ibtto ; he then removed to London, where he lectured in University college. In 1870 he became lecturer in the Queen's university, Kingston, Canada, and in 1881 removed to the United States. In 1849 he published " A New Elucidation of the Principl&s of Speech and Elocution," and subsequently " Stenophono- graphy," and other works of shorthand; "Vis- ible Speech and Universal Alphabetics," " Line Writingon the Ba,sis of Visible Sf)eech," " Sounds and their Relations," " Faults of Si)eech," " Prin- ciples of Elocution." "Standard Elocutionist," "Engli.sh and Speech-Reading and Articulation Teaching."
 * 'E.s.says and Postscripts on Elocution," "World

BELL, Charles H., naral officer, was born in New York city, Aug. 15, 1798. In 1812 he became a midshipman in the U. S. navy, .serving in 1812 and 1813 under Commodore Decatur; in 1814

under Commodore Chauncej- on Lake Ontario and in 1815 was again with Commodore Decatur on board the Macedonian in the oi>erations against Algiers. He was promoted lieutenant March 28, 1820. and in 1824 was in command of the Fer- ret, capsized in mid-ocean. He was saved aftei twenty-three hours' struggle with the elements. In 1829 he was with the squadron in the West Indies, operating against the pirates. With a boat's crew he cut out the Federal from under the guns of Fort Guadeloui^e. On Sept. 10, 1840, he was promoted commander, and while cruising on the African coast in the Yorktown, in 1844-'46, he succeeded in taking three slave ships, on one of which were nearly a thousand captive Africans. He received the rank of captain, Aug. 12, 1854, and five years later was placed in command of the Norfolk navy yard. In 1860 he joined the Med- iterranean squadron, and the next year was ordered home. He served from 1861 to 1864 in command of the Pacific squadron. On July 16, 1862, he was promoted commodore, and in May. 1865, was detailed on special duty on the James river, remaining there until the surrender of the Confederate forces at Appomatox. He was made commandant at the Brooklyn navy yard, serving in that post for three years, when he was retired from active service. He received the rank of rear-admiral on July 25, 1866, and died in New Brunswick, N. J., Feb. 19, 1875.

BELL, Charles Henry, governor of New Hamp- shire, was born in Chester, N. H., on Nov. 18. 1823; son of John Bell, governor in 1 829-' 30. He was graduated from Dartmouth coUege in 1844, prac- tised law in Chester, Great Falls, and Exeter; and was for ten years county solicitor. He was a representative in the state legislatures of 1858. 1859, and 1860, the last year being speaker; was state senator in 1863 and 1864, the last year being president of the senate; was representa- tive to the 43d Congress and president of the state Republican convention in 1878. In March, 1879, he was appointed by Governor Prescott. L'nited States senator to fill the vacancy made by the expiration of Senator Wadleigh's term before the convening of the legislature, in June, 1879. He was governor of New Hampshire from June, 1881, until June, 1883, being elected as a Republican. He was president of the state constitutional con- vention in 1889. As a historian and author Gov- ernor Bell gained wide reputation, and was president of the State historical .society for many years. Among his more prominent publications were: "Men and Things of Exeter, Nr'H."; "Exeter in 1776"; "Phillips Exeter Academy"; " Memorial of John T. Gilman. M. D. " ; " Memoirs of John Wheelwright," and "The Bench and Bar of New Hampshire." He died at Exeter, N. H., Nov. 13, 1893.