Bell, Robert National Historic Person
Ottawa, Ontario
Robert Bell (centre) and party
© Commission géologique du Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / PA-040074
Address :
601 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario
Recognition Statute:
Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date:
1938-05-19
Life Date:
1841 to 1917
Other Name(s):
-
Bell, Robert
(Designation Name)
Importance:
Explorer and geologist, Chief Geologist of Canada (1890-1906)
Plaque(s)
Existing plaque: In front of EMR Building 601 Booth Street, Ottawa, Ontario
Born near Toronto, Bell began a long career with the Geological survey of Canada as a summer student when he was only 15. In 1867, after university studies and a period of teaching at Queen's, he joined the Survey on a full-time basis and remained until 1908. During this time he became one of Canada's leading explorers, conducting extensive surveys in northern Canada, particularly in the Canadian Shield, from which he produced original maps and reports on a wide variety of subjects. He was a founding member of the Royal Society of Canada and from 1901 to 1906 served as acting director of the Geological Survey.