Robert Bell FRSC MD (June 3, 1841 – June 17, 1917) was a Canadian geologist, professor and civil servant. He is considered Canada’s greatest exploring scientist, having named over 3,000 geographical features.
Robert Bell was born in Toronto, Upper Canada to Presbyterian clergy and amateur geologist, Reverend Andrew Bell and Elizabeth née Notman. In 1873, Bell married Agnes Smith. They had a son and three daughters. He spent his retirement at his ...
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Robert Bell FRSC MD (June 3, 1841 – June 17, 1917) was a Canadian geologist, professor and civil servant. He is considered Canada’s greatest exploring scientist, having named over 3,000 geographical features.
Robert Bell was born in Toronto, Upper Canada to Presbyterian clergy and amateur geologist, Reverend Andrew Bell and Elizabeth née Notman. In 1873, Bell married Agnes Smith. They had a son and three daughters. He spent his retirement at his home in Ottawa and his farm in Rathwell, Manitoba. Bell died at the age of 67 at his farm after a brief illness.
As a 15-year old teenager he worked as a summer assistant to Sir William Edmond Logan with the Geological Survey of Canada. Even as he started postsecondary education he continued to work summers with the Geographical Survey, heading his own survey party in 1859.
Bell attended McGill University, Montreal, and studied under John William Dawson. In 1861, Bell earned a civil engineering degree with the Governor General’s Medal. He went...
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