William Bell (clergyman)

William Bell (May 28, 1780 August 16, 1857) was a Presbyterian minister, born in Scotland and an immigrant to Upper Canada. 
Bell and his family settled in Perth, Upper Canada, in 1817. He was a significant figure in promoting and expanding
the Presbyterian faith among the settlers in his region. He assisted in starting congregations in Beckwith Township, Lanark, Smiths Falls and Richmond.
His carefully constructed diaries and other writings provide an important insight into the interactions between the United Synod of Upper Canada and the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Canada. 
His son William Bell was a businessman and militia officer who gained some notability in Canadian history. Another son, Robert Bell, was a notable politician in Lanark County.