James Monro was a lawyer who became the first Assistant Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police and served as Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis from 1888 to 1890.
21 Facts About James Monro
1.
2.
James Monro was educated at Edinburgh High School, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Berlin.
3.
James Monro served successively as Assistant Magistrate, Collector and District Judge in the Bombay Presidency.
4.
James Monro then became Inspector-General of Police in the Presidency.
5.
In 1884, James Monro resigned from the Indian Civil Service and returned to Britain, being appointed the first Assistant Commissioner in London.
6.
James Monro succeeded Howard Vincent, whose title had been Director of Criminal Investigation, as head of the Criminal Investigation Department.
7.
James Monro managed to bring it under control by 1887.
8.
James Monro forged a close alliance with Robert Anderson, the Home Office adviser who controlled the spies infiltrating the Fenians.
9.
James Monro even retained personal control over it when he became Commissioner.
10.
James Monro had been widely tipped to succeed as Commissioner, and was disappointed not to do so.
11.
Warren was not particularly interested in detective work, but unlike Henderson he did not like James Monro working directly for the Home Secretary without his approval.
12.
James Monro was appointed a Companion of the Bath in June 1888.
13.
James Monro was extremely popular within the force, and his appointment was welcomed.
14.
James Monro immediately clashed with the Home Office and the Receiver, the force's chief financial officer.
15.
James Monro complained that he had a shortage of men and that the uniform boots and trousers were of extremely inferior quality.
16.
James Monro wanted to replace him with Chief Constable Charles Howard, but the Home Office preferred Evelyn Ruggles-Brise, one of its own high-flyers.
17.
James Monro refused, saying that his force had been promised promotions from below.
18.
Matthews announced a bill to improve them, but James Monro said it was too little.
19.
When Matthews refused to budge, James Monro offered his resignation, which was accepted on 12 June 1890, to take effect on 21 June.
20.
James Monro returned to India in 1890 as a missionary, founding and running Ranaghat Christian Medical Mission in the far north of the country.
21.
In BBC One's Ripper Street, James Monro was played by Michael McElhatton.