Person    | Male  Born 16/9/1721  Died 4/9/1780

Sir John Fielding

Categories: Law

Magistrate. Probably born in Blenheim Street, St James's. Lived in Bow Street. Blinded aged 19 in a navy accident. 14 years younger than his half-brother Henry Fielding, he followed in his footsteps: became a justice of the peace, succeeded Henry as court justice, and moved into the house and office at Bow Street vacated by Henry, where he lived for most of the rest of his life. He continued Henry's pioneering work with the police force. Died at his house, Brompton Place, at the junction of Cromwell Lane and Brompton Park Lane.

The black headband across the forehead in this painting, and others, of Fielding indicated that he was blind. There is an interesting discussion on Straight Dope about whether this was ever a conventional signal for blindness, and whether it might be related to the blindfold worn by Justice.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Sir John Fielding

Commemorated ati

Bow Street

Bow Street was formed about 1637. It has been the residence of many notable m...

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Henry Fielding

Henry Fielding

Novelist, playwright. Born Somerset. Half-brother to Sir John Fielding. Lived in Bow Street and Essex Street. Play: The Miser. Novels: Joseph Andrews, Tom Jones. As magistrate he carried out a numb...

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Sir Robert William Dibdin, JP, FRGS

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F. Brader

F. Brader

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Viscount Cecil of Chelwood

Viscount Cecil of Chelwood

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Tothill Fields Prison

Tothill Fields Prison

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2 memorials