William Nott-Bower

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]

Captain Sir William Nott-Bower KCVO
Commissioner of Police of the City of London
In office 1902–1925
Preceded by	Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Smith
Succeeded by	Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Hugh Turnbull
Personal details
Born	John William Nott Bower 20 March 1849 York, Yorkshire, England
Died	4 February 1939 (aged 89) Richmond, Surrey, England
Profession	Police officer

Biography

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

Bower married, in 1889 (1 June),[4] Florence Harrison, daughter of Reginald Harrison, FRCS. Their son was Sir John Nott-Bower (1892–1972), a later Head of the London Metropolitan Police.

References

1. "Obituary: Sir William Nott Bower – Former Commissioner of City Police". The Times. The Times Digital Archive. 6 February 1939. p. 14.
2. 1911 England Census
3. "The New Commissioner of City Police". The Times (36722). London. 22 March 1902. p. 4.
4. Liverpool Echo