TN Writers | TN Stories: John P. Williams, "Montgomery Bell: Tennessee Frontier Capitalist" in conversation with Clay Bailey

The name Montgomery Bell is well known to residents of Davidson County and the greater Middle Tennessee region. Montgomery Bell State Park is located in Dickson County, 40 minutes west of Nashville, and Nashville is home to Montgomery Bell Academy. Both were named for the successful 19th-century industrialist and iron master, who moved to the Cumberland River region about 1802 and helped make Tennessee the third highest iron-producing state by the mid-1800s. Montgomery Bell is the first full-length biography of Bell, written almost 170 years after his death in 1855.

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About the Author and Guest

John P. Williams is a graduate of Montgomery Bell Academy, Davidson College, and Vanderbilt Law School. He has practiced law in Tennessee since 1972 and is currently Of Counsel with the firm Tune, Entrekin & White. He is a frequent contributor to legal and historical journals. This is his first book.

Dr. Clay Bailey has taught history at Montgomery Bell Academy since 1995. He earned a PhD. from Vanderbilt in 1999 and an undergraduate degree from Sewanee in 1987. A native Nashvillian with deep roots, he has become more engaged in local history and historic preservation over the last 15 years. He has served as a commissioner on the Metro Historical Commission since 2013 and also serves on the boards of the Friends of Fort Negley, the Nashville City Cemetery Association, and the Battle of Nashville Trust.

This event is part of our TN Writers | TN Stories series. Readings and discussions take place in the Digital Learning Center at the Tennessee State Museum. All events include an opportunity to purchase books through the Museum store and get them signed by the author. If you show your Eventbrite ticket you will receive a 10% discount on your book purchase in the Museum Store.