Patrick Colquhoun

In St Margaret's Church Westminster, on the west wall, is a memorial tablet to Patrick Colquhoun, founder of the Thames Police. At the top is a carved draped curtain with a bee hive, books, the prow of a ship and other articles. The inscription reads: 

Sacred to the memory of Patrick Colquhoun Esq. L.L.D. elected during three successive years Lord Provost of Glasgow, he founded in that city the Chamber of Commerce, the Royal Exchange Tontine, and essentially promoted the trade and manufactures of Scotland. A Deputy Lieutenant for Middlesex, and for XXV years a magistrate of that and the adjoining counties: he originated and gratuitously carried into effect the Marine Police, an establishment by which the property of the West India planter, the merchant, and ship owner in the Port of London was protected from plunder to a great extent, the revenue to the Crown largely increased, and the morals of the river labourers materially improved. With unceasing energy he suggested and successfully promoted various plans for the prevention of crimes, for the supply of food during scarcities, for the melioration of the condition of the poor, and for the education of their children. He was author of the treatises on the policing of the metropolis and river Thames, on the wealth, power, and resources of the Empire, and of numerous other important works on criminal jurisprudence, political economy, and on the commerce and manufactures of Great Britain. So highly was he respected and esteemed, as well on the continent of Europe as in the possessions of His Majesty abroad, that on the declared ground of his public character and services, the free Hanseatic republics of Lubeck, Bremen, and Hamburgh constituted him their resident and consul general, and the colonies of St Vincent, Nevis, Dominica, and the Virgin Islands, their agent in this county. His mind was fertile in conception, kind and benevolent in disposition, bold and persevering in execution. He was born at Dumbarton in Scotland XIV March MDCCXLV old stile, and after a laborious life alike honorable to himself and useful to his country, he died on the XXV day of April MDCCCXX, aged LXXXVI years.

He was a son of Adam Colquhoun and his wife Isabell. His siblings were Ann, David, Mary and Adam. After local education in Dumbarton he was sent to Virginia to learn the tobacco trade and on his return became a leading merchant in Glasgow. In 1775 he married Janet Colquhoun and they had seven children - Frances, Isabella, James, Adam, Janet, Margaret and another unknown. After moving to London and becoming a magistrate he drew up plans, with John Harriott, for the river police force. He was buried in the church in April 1820.

Further reading

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2004

"A biographical sketch of the life and writings of Patrick Colquhoun" by G.D. Yeats, 1818