John Bell (c. 1799 – 24 June 1868) was born Isle of Mull, Scotland and emigrated to Canada where he worked for the Hudson's Bay Company as a fur trader and colonizer.
[1] Bell was appreciated by the company for his "professionalism, flexibility and dedication to the interests of the fur trade" as well as his abilities as a "manager of men".
With the assistance of Alexander Kennedy Isbister, he established Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories on the Peel River not far from the Mackenzie, and colonized the Peel into what is now the Yukon Territory.
After managing the fur trade at Fort McPherson until 1845, he returned to the Bell River, and Followed the Porcupine to its juncture with the Yukon River, the eventual site of Fort Yukon.
Although his exploits as an explorer are most often publicized, Bell preferred to work as a manager and organizer.