Frederick Pottinger
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (February 2015) |
Sir Frederick William Pottinger, 2nd Baronet (27 April 1831 – 9 April 1865) was a police inspector in New South Wales, Australia, who gained fame for his fight against bushrangers.
Early life
Born in India, son of Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Pottinger of the British East India Company, and his wife Susanna Maria, née Cooke, of Dublin,[1]
Pottinger was educated privately before attending Eton from 1844 to 1847.
Career
In 1850, Pottinger purchased a commission in the
Probably because of conditions imposed by his family who still supported him with funds, Pottinger kept his title secret but in 1860 it was discovered by the inspector-general of police,
Inspector of police
Under the 1862
The police arrested a young boy on suspicion of being an accomplice and allowed him to remain in the lock-up without comforts; his death in March 1863 from gaol fever further diminished Pottinger's reputation. On 27 September 1862 Pottinger had appeared before a Bathurst court on a charge of assault.[1]
In February 1863, Pottinger attended the Sydney trials of the escort robbers; jostled by larrikins in the street he again became the subject of public notice. He also threatened politician Joseph Harpur with his whip for charges made against him in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. Meanwhile, the bushrangers in his district became more active. He later captured Patrick Daley, but on 17 August 1864 failed to arrest James Alpin McPherson.[1]
In May 1863, the inspector-general had directed the police to act on their own initiative. Early in January 1865 hoping to lure Hall and his associate, fellow bushranger John Dunn, into the open, Pottinger rode in the Wowingragong races in breach of police regulations. Despite his justifiable claim that his action 'fully warranted the discretionary departure in point from the letter (tho' not the spirit)' of the regulation he was dismissed from the police force on 16 February 1865. Protest meetings against his dismissal were held on the diggings and in the towns, with petitions for his reappointment.
Personal life
On 5 March 1865 at
See also
- Pottinger Baronets
References
- ^ a b c d e f Selth, P. A., "Pottinger, Sir Frederick William (1831–1865)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
