Sir John William Nott-Bower, KCVO (20 March 1849 – 4 February 1939) was a British officer and Commissioner of the City of London Police.[1]

Sir William Nott-Bower
Commissioner of Police of the City of London
In office
1902–1925
Preceded byLieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Smith
Succeeded byLieutenant-Colonel Sir Hugh Turnbull
Personal details
Born
John William Nott Bower

20 March 1849
York, Yorkshire, England
Died4 February 1939 (aged 89)
Richmond, Surrey, England
ProfessionPolice officer

Biography

edit

Bower was born in York,[2] the son of Dr. John Bower, and grandson of Sir William Nott. The barrister Sir Edmund Ernest Nott-Bower, was a brother. He was educated at Cheltenham and Sandhurst, and served in the army in the King's Regiment. He was later appointed a captain of the 5th (Militia) Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment.

Bower was transferred to the Royal Irish Constabulary, then served as Chief constable of Leeds, before he was appointed Head constable of Liverpool in October 1881. The police force in Liverpool was the largest in the country, and gave a thorough knowledge of police administration on an extensive scale.[3]

In March 1902 he was elected Commissioner of Police of the City of London,[3] serving as such until 1925.

He was knighted in 1911, was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) the same year, and was later promoted to a Knight Commander (KCVO) in the order.

Family

edit

Bower married, on 1 June 1889, Florence Harrison, daughter of Reginald Harrison, FRCS. Their son was Sir John Nott-Bower (1892–1972), who later headed the London Metropolitan Police.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Obituary: Sir William Nott Bower – Former Commissioner of City Police". The Times. 6 February 1939. p. 14.
  2. ^ 1911 England Census
  3. ^ a b "The New Commissioner of City Police". The Times. No. 36722. London. 22 March 1902. p. 4.
Police appointments
Preceded by Commissioner of the City of London Police
1902–1925
Succeeded by