William H. Bell, USMA 1820.

Cullum # 235

Died December 20, 1865 at Saint Louis, MO, age 67.

• Acting Assistant Professor of Mathematics as a Second Class Cadet, 1818-1819, and as a First Class Cadet, 1819-1820.
• Assistant Professor of Mathematics, USMA, August 18, 1820 to July 1, 1823.

Served in the army until 1861 when he resigned. Then he became a farmer. Might there be a story here?

On March 18, 1836, the Senate passed bill S174 "For the purchase of certain rights or inventions of William H. Bell of North Carolina." They agreed to pay him $20,000 for two "patents, viz: one called a machine for elevating heavy cannon, the other called a traverse board for pointing cannon." The entire (one page) bill is available on the web at Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1873. 

On December 14, 1837, another bill,  HR23, concerned his salary while "superintending, as assistant engineer, the Delaware breakwater." This refers to "late Captain," so perhaps he left the service for a time. 

Nothing in library computer under his name or subject. 

Paper file started. Has Cullum entry.