Background
Jacob Bell was born on December 17, 1792, at Middlesex (now Darien), Connecticut, where his ancestor, Francis Bell, had been one of the first settlers in 1641. He was the son of John and Deborah (Clock) Bell.
Businessman shipbuilder statesman
Jacob Bell was born on December 17, 1792, at Middlesex (now Darien), Connecticut, where his ancestor, Francis Bell, had been one of the first settlers in 1641. He was the son of John and Deborah (Clock) Bell.
At the age of 17 years Jacob was apprenticed to Messrs. Adam and Noah Brown, then among the most enterprising and successful shipbuilders in New York City.
Jacob Bell entered into partnership with David Brown about 1820 and they took over the shipyard formerly run by Adam and Noah Brown on the East River at the foot of Houston St. , New York City. In 1821 they launched their first ships, the William Tell and Orbit. The firm was known as Brown & Bell until the former's death about 1848, when Bell conducted it in his own name until his death. Their yard held its own with the principal local rivals, William H. Brown and William H. Webb. They seem to have been equally successful in turning out fast sailing vessels and in keeping up with the latest developments in steamships. The firm was in close relation with Edward K. Collins. In 1834 they joined with him in starting the New York Marine Dry Dock Company, and, shortly afterward, built the Garrick, Roscius, Sheridan, and Siddons for his transatlantic Dramatic Line of sailing packets.
They are credited with building in 1840 the first ocean steamships launched in New York, the Lion and the Eagle, which became Spanish warships. A year later they built the fast little schooner Angola for the opium trade. Their clippers were surpassed only by the products of their former pupil, Donald McKay. The partners built the Houqua (1844) and Samuel Russell (1847). Among the best clippers built by Bell alone were the Oriental (1849), White Squall (1850), Trade Wind (1851), the largest clipper yet built, and Messenger, launched three months before his death. The Jacob Bell, named for himself, was completed four months after he died by his son Abraham. Even more conspicuous products of the Bell yard were the steamships Pacific and Baltic for the Collins Line.
Bell was married on May 10, 1821, to Phebe Clock of Darien, Connecticut.