John Fielding

John Fielding

"This article is about the London magistrate. For the soldier, see John Williams (VC)."

ed in a navy accident at the age of 19, John set up his own business and, in his spare time, studied law with Henry.

Appointed Henry's personal assistant in 1750, John helped him to root out corruption and improve the competence of those engaged in administering justice in London. They formed the first professional police force, the Bow Street Runners. Through the regular circulation of a 'police gazette' containing descriptions of known criminals, Fielding also established the basis for the first police criminal records department.

When Henry died in 1754, John was appointed magistrate at Bow Street in his place, becoming renowned as the "Blind Beak", and allegedly being able to recognise 3000 criminals by the sounds of their voices. He also continued to develop his ideas on crime prevention and youth employment. He was knighted in 1761.

In popular culture

* A fictionalized Sir John Fielding is the protagonist of eleven historical detective novels (set in Britain's Georgian period), written by the American writer Bruce Cook, under the pseudonym "Bruce Alexander".
* John Fielding is an important character of the historical detective novel "Death in the Dark Walk" (1994), written by Deryn Lake.
* John Fielding is portrayed by David Warner in the 2006 British television film of Sweeney Todd, starring Ray Winstone.
* The 2008 Channel 4 television series City of Vice is based on the crime investigative work of the Fielding brothers. Iain Glen plays John Fielding.
* John Fielding is a recurring supporting character in a series of Benjamin Franklin mysteries by Robert Lee Hall -- set in London during the late 1750s. In many instances Fielding himself requests Franklin's help solving a murder.

External links

* [http://www.nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/books/kernel1/kern0808.htm The Blind Beak of Bow Street] by John Dashney
* [http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/person.asp?LinkID=mp01570 Sir John Fielding] at the National Portrait Gallery


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  • John Fielding — Sir John Fielding (* 1721 in London; † 4. September 1780 in London) war ein britischer Richter, der durch seine Blindheit und seine sozialen Reformen bekannt wurde. Leben John Fielding stammte aus der Familie der Earls of Denbigh. Sein Vater war… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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  • Fielding — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Fielding hace referencia a: Henry Fielding, escritor británico del s.XVIII; Sarah Fielding, escritora británica, hermana del anterior; Sir John Fielding, juez británico, hermanastro de los dos anteriores; Helen… …   Wikipedia Español

  • John Williams (VC) — John Williams VC (born John Fielding 24 May 1857, Abergavenny died 25 November 1932), was a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and… …   Wikipedia

  • John Williams (disambiguation) — John Williams may refer to:Artists and entertainers* John Williams (born 1933), American composer, mostly of film scores * John Williams (actor) (1903–1983), British stage, film, and television actor * Johnny Williams (drummer) (ca. 1905 1957?),… …   Wikipedia

  • John Merivale — John Herman Merivale est un acteur canadien, né le 1er décembre 1917 à Toronto (Canada), et décédé d une insuffisance rénale aiguë le 6 février 1990 à Londres (Royaume Uni). Biographie Fils de l acteur Philip Merivale et beau fils de l… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Fielding, Henry — born April 22, 1707, Sharpham Park, Somerset, Eng. died Oct. 8, 1754, Lisbon, Port. British novelist and playwright. Fielding attended Eton College but left early and lost his family s support. In his 25 plays, all written early, he was… …   Universalium

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