William George Morant OBE KPM (30 November 1862 - 19 March 1945) was a British police officer.

William George Morant
Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary
In office
1902–1922
Preceded byJohn Henry Eden
Succeeded byGeorge Morley
Chief Constable of South Shields Borough Police
In office
1894–1902
Preceded byFrederick George Milles Moorhouse
Chief Constable of Reigate Borough Police
In office
1891–1894
Personal details
Born30 November 1862
Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England
Died19 March 1945
Ninfield, East Sussex, England
ProfessionPolice officer

Early life edit

Morant was born in Great Yarmouth in 1862, the son of Alfred Morant, a civil engineer and Town Surveyor of Great Yarmouth. In 1881 he was working as an accountant's assistant.[1]

Early police career edit

Morant joined the Edinburgh City Police in early 1882 at around the age of 20. There he learnt the basics of police work under the command of Captain Henderson. He spent three and a half years with the Edinburgh City Police before transferring to the Metropolitan Police Service.

Morant served in the Metropolitan Police for a further four and a half years. After this he joined the Reading Borough Police Force, he left the Reading Police after being appointed Chief Constable of the Reigate Borough Police Force.

Senior police career edit

Morant was appointed Chief Constable of the Reigate Borough Police Force in 1891. He spent three years as Chief Constable of Reigate. Aged 32, he was appointed Chief Constable of South Shields Borough Police after the resignation and death of its Chief Constable in 1894.[2]

Morant served as Chief Constable of South Shields Borough Police until October 1902 when he was appointed Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary.[3] He spent the next twenty years as Chief Constable of Durham until retiring in 1922 aged 60.[4]

Honours edit

      


References edit

  1. ^ Leigh, Juliet Esme (2013). Early county chief constables in the north of England 1880-1905 (PDF) (PhD). The Open University.
  2. ^ Tabili, Laura (2011). Global Migrants, Local Culture: Natives and Newcomers in Provincial England, 1841-1939. Springer. p. 286. ISBN 9780230307711.
  3. ^ "Durham County Constabulary 1840 - 1974". British Police History. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  4. ^ Watson, Alan S.; Harrison, Derek (1990). Policing the Land of the Prince Bishops: The History of Durham Constabulary 1840-1990. Durham Books. p. 23. ISBN 9781872902005.


Police appointments
Preceded by
John Henry Eden
Chief Constable of Durham Constabulary
1902-1922
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Frederick George Milles Moorhouse
Chief Constable of South Shields Borough Police
1894–1902
Succeeded by
[[]]
Preceded by
[[]]
Chief Constable of Reigate Borough Police
1891–1894
Succeeded by
[[]]