# American Medical Biographies/Bell, Robert

​Bell, Robert (1841–1917)
Robert Bell was assistant director and chief geologist of the Geological Survey of Canada and for several years acted as director of the Survey, as well as one of the charter members of The Royal Society of Canada. He was born in Toronto on June 3, 1841, and was in his 77th year when he died at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, June 19, 1917.
Both his grandfather, Rev. William Bell, and his father, Rev. Andrew Bell, were ministers of the Church of Scotland. His father was one of the pioneers of Canadian geology, and when Sir William Logan was called by the government of the United Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada to establish a Geological Survey, one of the first Canadians with whom he conferred on this subject was Dr. Bell's father, Rev. Andrew Bell. Dr. Bell therefore came justly by his predilection for geological and natural history studies.
Dr. Bell obtained his early education at the grammar school of the County of Prescott and afterwards studied at McGill University, under the distinguished scientists, Dr. T. Sterry Hunt and Dr. Sutherland, receiving his degree in Applied Science in 1861 and the Governor's gold medal. He afterwards pursued his studies in Edinburgh, taking chemistry under Lords Fairplay and Lister and Professors Dittmar and Crum Brown, and botany under Professor J. H. Balfour. At the age of 21 years he became professor of chemistry and natural science at Queen's University, a chair which he held for five years from 1863 to 1867. Previous to accepting the professorship at Queen's, Dr. Bell in 1857, at the early age of 16, had joined the staff of the Geological Survey of Canada under Sir W. E. Logan, and for over 50 years he was connected with that branch of the government service. He had the privilege of being associated with Murray, Hunt, Billings, and Richardson, all men of high ideals and attainments with whom it was an inspiration to work and from whom he had imbibed an enthusiasm for geological exploration and research which he retained throughout his life. During his 50 years of active connection with the survey, Dr. Bell accomplished an enormous amount of geological work, but he was pre-eminent as an explorer, and it is in that branch of work that his name will be remembered by succeeding generations. He had practical training as a surveyor at McGill University, and to further equip himself to meet emergencies that might arise in the course of his exploratory journeys he completed a course in medicine and surgery at the same University in 1878. His geographical and geological surveys covered a great part of northern Quebec and Ontario and the region about Hudson Bay as well as nothern Manitoba, Alberta and the North West Territories, and he traversed at one time or other most of the larger streams and lakes of these regions, many of them being surveyed by him for the first time. The Bell river, the western branch of the Nottaway river, is officially named after him.
His reports contain a fund of information on the geological and physical features of that northern country that was of great value to the government and the locating engineers at the time that the building of the National Transcontinental railway was under discussion and when different portions of that region became opened up. He was attached to several expeditions into Hudson Bay, was medical officer and geologist to the Neptune expedition in 1884 and the Alert expedition of 1885. Again when on the Diana expedition in 1897, he surveyed the south shore of Baffinland and penetrated that island to the great lakes of its interior. He came in close contact with the Indians on his trips and his collection of native legends numbers several hundreds. Dr. Bell was deeply interested in forestry and as early as 1873 he prepared a large map showing the northern limits of the principal trees in the four original provinces of the Dominion. Later he made other maps ​giving much information compiled from observations of his own.
In recognition of his contributions to the geography of Canada Dr. Bell was awarded the King's or "Patron's Gold Medal" of the Royal Geographical Society in 1906. In the same year he was the recipient of the "Cullum Gold Medal" from the American Geographical Society.
Besides the degrees received in course at McGill University, B. A. Sc. 1861, M. D., C. M., 1878, D. Sc. 1901, Dr. Bell was the recipient of many honorary degrees from other universities, including Queen's and Cambridge. He was a member of most of the scientific societies of Canada, London, and America.
In 1877 he was appointed assistant director of the Geological and Natural History Survey of Canada, and in 1890 the additional title of Chief Geologist was given him. In January, 1901, Dr. Bell took over the administration of the Geological Survey of Canada and directed it until April, 1906. In December, 1908, he was superannuated after almost 52 years of devotion to the interests of his country, and his long service had been rewarded in 1903 by companionship in the Imperial Service Order.
Dr. Bell's later years were spent at his home in Ottawa and on his farm in Manitoba.
The bibliography of Dr. Bell's writings includes over 200 reports and pamphlets, most of which are contained in the volumes of the Geological Survey. They cover the results of his explorations in the field of geology, geography, forestry, biology, and folk-lore. His first report was published in 1857 and dealt with the fauna of the lower St. Lawrence, the Saguenay and Lake St. John, and his last report was published fifty years later and referred to the important mining district of Cobalt, Ontario.
Dr. Bell was a man of strong personality, a charming host and a staunch friend to those to whom his friendship was given.