Lawyer, soldier and policeman Howard Vincent

caricature spy published in vanity fair in 1883.

passing out in 1868, purchased commission in 23rd foot (later royal welch fusiliers). promoted lieutenant in 1871. in 1871, served correspondent daily telegraph in berlin , went on russia learn language , study country s military organisation. in 1872 began write articles , lecture @ royal united services institution. after regiment posted ireland later year, began address political meetings on irish question, expressing liberal views.

on 3 may 1873, vincent enrolled pupil barrister @ inner temple. in , following year travelled turkey , again russia, learning turkish (to add russian, french, german , italian, knew). became expert on politics of near east. in 1874, commissioned royal berkshire militia captain. resigned commission in november 1875, month later appointed lieutenant-colonel commanding 40th (central london rifle rangers) middlesex rifle volunteer corps, again resigning commission in 1878. continued write on political , military matters.

he called bar on 20 january 1876 , joined south-eastern circuit in probate, divorce , admiralty division, although never devoted himself law. on outbreak of russo-turkish war in 1877, daily telegraph sent him report on russian army, refused permission accompany army field, russians suspicious spoke russian , suspected him of being turkish sympathiser.

in 1877 enrolled student @ faculté de droit of university of paris , investigated parisian police. when, later year, metropolitan police detective branch hit scandal in several senior officers dismissed, vincent asked report on paris detective system. impressed r. a. cross, home secretary, in 1878 appointed new post of director of criminal investigation head new criminal investigation department. although without official status of assistant commissioner, post equivalent 2 assistant commissioners in every way. vincent answered directly home secretary , not commissioner, put him in rather strange position, deputy, adolphus williamson, , men did answer commissioner (luckily vincent , commissioner sir edmund henderson had relationship). vincent reorganised department. 1883 edited police gazette.

in 1884, however, realising police post offered little chance of further advancement, resigned enter politics. year appointed lieutenant-colonel commanding queen s westminster volunteers, holding post twenty years until 1904. rewarded police service being appointed companion of order of bath (cb) in 1885. vincent knighted in 1896 , appointed knight commander of order of st michael , st george (kcmg) in 1898 service british delegate conference on anarchists in rome.

he selected command infantry of city imperial volunteers in second boer war, refused permission go due heart problem. went in private capacity anyway, however, , arrived in cape town in january 1900, @ height of war. awarded volunteer officers decoration, , appointed aide-de-camp king, , colonel in volunteer force in 1901. resigned commission final time in 1904, retaining rank.