Information Sourced from Queensland Police Museum Resources
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QP SERVICE HISTORY: Information sourced from Queensland Police Museum Resources Printed Wednesday, 26 August 2020 Page 1 of 2 File No: 3377 Cat Ref: PM2304 Name: URQUHART Christian Name: Frederic Charles Place of Birth: Sussex Reg No: DOB: Age at entry: 419 27.10.1858 24yrs Height: Eyes: Hair: Complexion: --- --- --- --- Marital status: Single upon entry then later married with 3 children Country: Calling (prior to entry): Religion England Line repairer in the Electric Telegraph Department Anglican Promotions Transfers 25.04.1882 Cadet Sub-Inspector (NMP) 25.04.1882 Carl Creek 01.07.1882 Sub-Inspector 2/c 07.09.1882 Dunrobin 27.09.1893 Sub-Inspector 1/c 00.00.1883 Carl Creek 27.04.1897 Inspector 2/c 00.00.1884 Cloncurry 27.01.1904 Inspector 1/c 00.00.0000 Corella 01.07.1905 Chief Inspector 29.06.1888 Palmer 01.01.1917 Commissioner of Police 01.05.1889 Paterson (Cape York) 29.07.1890 Cloncurry 03.07.1894 Thursday Island 24.01.1896 Brisbane 01.12.1897 Criminal Investigation Branch (O/C) 00.00.1917 Commissioner's Office Remarks Left Native Police in 1889 to serve in regular Police. While in the far north he searched for survivors from the ill-fated Quetta in Torres Strait in 1890, charted Albatross Bay & the Embley and Hay Rivers, and published his findings in the "Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland'' (1897). QPG - 12.05.1894: ASSIGNMENT OF DISTRICTS. In pursuance of section 4 of "The Police Act of 1863", the undermentioned Officer of the Police Force has been assigned to the District specified:-First Class Sub-Inspector Frederick Charles Urquhart - The District comprising Thursday Island and the adjacent islands; the eastern coast of the Colony from Cooktown to Cape York; and the western coast, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, from the Norman River to Cape York. Head-quarters, Thursday Island. QPG - 18.01.1896: ASSIGNMENT OF DISTRICTS. In pursuance of section 4 of "The Police Act of 1863", the undermentioned Officer of the Police Force has been assigned to the District specified:- First Class Sub-Inspector Frederic Charles Urquhart - A. District - Brisbane Sub-District (Areas encompassed by listed Districts also included in this QPG) QPG - 06.01.1917: Home Secretary's Department, Brisbane, 5th January, 1917. His Excellency the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, has, in pursuance of the provisions of "The Police Acts, 1838 to 1912", been pleased to appoint FREDERIC CHARLES URQUHART, Chief Inspector of Police, to be Commissioner of Police, for a period of five years from and including the 1st January, 1917, in the room of William Geoffrey Cahill, superannuated. In 1898 he took charge of the CIB. His administration was severely criticized in an 1899 Royal Commission which drew attention to his "impulsive and exacting temperament" and "vindictive and tyrannical nature". Appointed Chief Inspector on 01.07.1905 he was prominent in Police action during the 1912 general strike. Despite some objections he was appointed as Commissioner of Police on 01.01.1917; he held the position until 16.01.1921, introducing little in the way of reform. He figured in the Police action against the red flag rioters in Brisbane in 1919 and was involved with loyalist groups during and after World War 1. Retired 16.01.1921 Died 02.12.1935 and is buried at Toowong Cemetery, Portion 25, Sect 31, Grave 8. REFERENCES See also: Page 265, The Secret War - A True history of Queensland's Native Police, by Jonathan Richards, 2008 Refer QSA File No: A/47932; ITM567139 ADB Entry: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/urquhart-frederic-charles-8901 QP SERVICE HISTORY: Information sourced from Queensland Police Museum Resources Printed Wednesday, 26 August 2020 Page 2 of 2 **QPG - 29.04.1882 - Appointments **QPG - 08.07.1882 - Promotions **QPG - 07.10.1893 - Promotions **QPG - 08.05.1897 - Promotions **QPG - 06.02.1904 - Promotions **QPG - 01.07.1905 - Promotions **QPG - 06.01.1917 - Appointment to Commissioner.