Born the eldest son of David Bell of Bonnytoun, General Sir John Bell was a distinguished soldier during the Napoleonic Wars and a friend of the Duke of Wellington.

According to Hart’s Army List: ‘General Sir John Bell served in Sicily in 1806 and 1807, in the Peninsula and France from Jul 1808, to February 1809, and again from May 1809 to July 1814, including the battle of Vimiera, action at the bridge of Almeida, battle at Busaco, all the actions during the retreat of the French from Portugal, siege and storming of Ciudad Rodrigo, siege and storming of Badajos, action at the heights of Castrillos, battle of Salamanca, action of Sabijana de Morillos, battles of Vittoria, the Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, and Toulouse. Served afterwards with the army employed against Louisiana from December 1814 to June 1815. He has received the gold cross for the battles of Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes, and Toulouse, and the silver war medal with six clasps for the other battles and sieges.’

He received the reward for distinguished services, and was for many years one of the aides-de-camp to the Queen. In 1848 he was selected by the Duke of Wellington as Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey to meet some difficulty there, and at the request of the inhabitants he was retained for twice the usual term of the appointment (24 January 1848 - 30 June 1854).

In 1821 he married Lady Catherine Harris (1780-1855), eldest daughter of the first Earl of Malmesbury.

He died in December 1876.