Robert Anderson(1841-1918)
Sir Robert Anderson KCB (29 May 1841 - 15 November 1918) was the second Assistant Commissioner (Crime) of the London Metropolitan Police, from 1888 to 1901. He was also an intelligence officer, theologian and writer.
Anderson was born in Mountjoy Square, Dublin, Ireland. His father, Matthew Anderson, was Crown Solicitor, a distinguished elder in the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, and of Ulster Scots descent. Matthew married Mary, daughter of Samuel Lee of Derry. Robert described himself as "an anglicized Irishman of Scottish extraction". He had an elder brother, Sir Samuel Lee Anderson, and a sister, Annie. He received a Bachelor of Laws degree from Trinity College in 1875.
Anderson began to practice as a barrister. However, in 1865 his father showed him papers relating to the trials of Fenians and he too became involved in the operations against them, becoming the foremost expert on them and operations against them. In 1868, he was called to London and on April of the same year he was attached to the Home Office as adviser on political crime. In 1873, he married Lady Agnes Alexandrina Moore, sister of Ponsonby Moore, 9th Earl of Drogheda. They had five children. In 1887 he was asked to assist James Monro, Assistant Commissioner (Crime) at Scotland Yard, in operations related to political crime. In 1888, Monro was promoted to Commissioner, and Anderson replaced him as Assistant Commissioner, the post he was to hold for the rest of his career.
The Criminal Investigation Department was then just starting the investigation into the Whitechapel murders, a series of murders by the unknown serial killer nicknamed Jack the Ripper, which he thought were grossly oversensationalised. Almost immediately after being promoted, Anderson went on an extended holiday in France, leaving others in charge. He was called back after a month because of increased bad publicity over the Whitechapel murders.
Anderson retired in 1901 and was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the King's Birthday Honours List in November 1901, having been appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 1896. Anderson died from the Spanish flu in 1918, aged 77.
Anderson was born in Mountjoy Square, Dublin, Ireland. His father, Matthew Anderson, was Crown Solicitor, a distinguished elder in the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, and of Ulster Scots descent. Matthew married Mary, daughter of Samuel Lee of Derry. Robert described himself as "an anglicized Irishman of Scottish extraction". He had an elder brother, Sir Samuel Lee Anderson, and a sister, Annie. He received a Bachelor of Laws degree from Trinity College in 1875.
Anderson began to practice as a barrister. However, in 1865 his father showed him papers relating to the trials of Fenians and he too became involved in the operations against them, becoming the foremost expert on them and operations against them. In 1868, he was called to London and on April of the same year he was attached to the Home Office as adviser on political crime. In 1873, he married Lady Agnes Alexandrina Moore, sister of Ponsonby Moore, 9th Earl of Drogheda. They had five children. In 1887 he was asked to assist James Monro, Assistant Commissioner (Crime) at Scotland Yard, in operations related to political crime. In 1888, Monro was promoted to Commissioner, and Anderson replaced him as Assistant Commissioner, the post he was to hold for the rest of his career.
The Criminal Investigation Department was then just starting the investigation into the Whitechapel murders, a series of murders by the unknown serial killer nicknamed Jack the Ripper, which he thought were grossly oversensationalised. Almost immediately after being promoted, Anderson went on an extended holiday in France, leaving others in charge. He was called back after a month because of increased bad publicity over the Whitechapel murders.
Anderson retired in 1901 and was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the King's Birthday Honours List in November 1901, having been appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 1896. Anderson died from the Spanish flu in 1918, aged 77.