Heroes of History
Sir Robert Peel: The U.K.’s original “Bobby”
Sir Robert Peel brought to the world modern policing
Sir Robert Peel, considered the father of modern British policing, founded the Metropolitan Police Service in 1829. Bobbies, a slang term associated with police constables back-in-the-day, stems directly from Sir Robert and his Metropolitan Police Service.
Peel, 2nd Baronet FRS (Fellowship of the Royal Society), was born in Bury, Lancashire, England on Tuesday, 5 Feb. 1788. The 2nd Baronet, a Conservative statesman, served twice as the British Prime Minister. His prime-ministership, not exactly lengthy, was 1834 to 1835 and 1841 to 1846.
Curiously, something that wouldn’t happen today, Peel’s first stint as Prime Minister coincided with his period of servitude as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Prior to becoming Chancellor of the Exchequer and Prime Minister, from 1822 to 1827 and from 1828 to 1830, Peel served as the Home Secretary.
Peel, as one can see from his many political posts, gained a vast wealth of experience dealing directly and indirectly with politicians, bureaucrats, and statesmen at various levels of the British establishment. It should not surprise anyone, given his history, Peel was one of the modern Conservative Party’s founders.
