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The attorneys that formed the firm as it is today.

William Henry Somerset Bell.

Bell was born in 1856 at Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape. After early schooling in Britain he returned to South Africa in 1869 to live in Grahamstown and went to St. Andrews School. There he wrote and printed a local newspaper called the "Kariega News" named after the stream that flowed through his parents farm.

He starts his legal career

In 1873 he began his legal training with prominent political figures in the Cape Colony - Jonathan Ayliff, a member of the Cape Parliament, and Thomas Scanlen who later became the first South African born premier of the Cape Colony. On his admission to practice Bell became a partner in the Grahamstown firm of Ayliff, Bell & Hutton.

Frontier spirit

True to his frontier spirit, Bell, in 1887, responded to pressure from his more adventurous clients to serve them in the Kimberley diamond fields. He then moved to the Witwatersrand - four years after the proclamation of the gold fields. He set up practice in Johannesburg in 1890 where he acted for a number of gold mines. He helped to found a professional body called "De Ingelijde Orde van Procureurs" which became "The Incorporated Law Society of the Transvaal" after the Boer War.

Jameson Raid

Bell and his partner Charles Herbert Mullins who were dissatisfied with the regime of Paul Kruger, were involved in the Reform Committee, and were put on trial for treason after the "ill-starred" Jameson Raid.

Opens in Johannesburg

Following the effects of his experience with controversial justice, Bell moved to England where the gathering war clouds ruled out the idea of an early return to South Africa. But he was able to build contacts which proved valuable when he returned in 1901 to open an office in Johannesburg which is the forerunner to the Bell Dewar of today.

Hundred year association with newspapers

From his school days on the Kariega News and his editorship of the Cape Law Journal, Bell gained experience in the field of publishing. This background contributed to him being the chosen attorney of Abe Bailey and other promoters of the Rand Daily Mail and the Sunday Times in the early years of the twentieth century. This started a hundred year association that grew with the formation of the South African Associated Newspapers and later, the Times Media group.

Dedication kept him going

Bells enthusiasm for his profession and his dedication to his work kept him going until October 1939 when he dropped dead in the street on his way back from the Registrar of Deeds. He was 83 years old.

He was described in the South African Law Journal as "a prince among solicitors". Apart from the name of the firm, a reminder of him survives in Roedean School (South Africa) which he helped to found in 1903, an association with the firm which continues to this day. He is credited with the idea of naming streets in Kensington after British warships.

Charles Alexander Dewar

Born in the Eastern Cape in Tarkastad, Dewar was the son of a Moderator of the Presbyterian Church. Dewar first worked with Bell in 1915 and then left for Britain to join the Royal Field Artillery. He was awarded the Military Cross and Bar for bravery as a commander of a battery of Royal Field Artillery. He was described as "a conscientious, brave and highly efficient officer."

Dewar, Bell and their clients

Dewar returned to the legal practice in 1919. He backed Bell in providing legal advice to various clients, mainly the Railways, The Sunday Times and the Rand Daily Mail. Bell was appointed to watch the editorial content of the papers and Dewar was the chairman on both papers for 10 years.

When British engineering companies came to South Africa, the firm helped to establish them. One of them was Wellman Smith Owen. Bell became the first Chairman of the company, later followed by Dewar.

Dewar the man
Dewar worked for the Lad's Hostel Association, the South African Red Cross Society, the Anglican Church and was appointed Chairman of St. George's Home for Boys. He was a devotee of classical gramophone music.

Clifford Hall

When Bell died in 1939, Clifford Hall was there to fill the gap. Hall matriculated from King Edward VII School and became a partner at Hofmeyr. A prominent attorney, he was actively involved in public affairs, politics and business. After the death of Harry Hofmeyr, Hall joined Dewar in 1940 - the revitalised firm was called Bell Dewar & Hall.

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