This article is about the London magistrate. For the soldier, see John Williams (VC). John Williams VC (born John Fielding 24 May 1857, Abergavenny - died 25 November 1932) was a Welsh

Portrait of John Fielding by Nathaniel Hone

Sir John Fielding (1721 – 4 September 1780) was a notable English magistrate and social reformer of the 18th century. Nathaniel Hone ( 24 April 1718 &ndash 14 August 1784) was an Irish -born portrait and miniature painter, and one of Year 1721 ( MDCCXXI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 476 - Romulus Augustus, last emperor of the Western Roman Empire, is deposed when Odoacer proclaims himself Year 1780 ( MDCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A magistrate is a judicial officer In Common law systems a magistrate usually has limited authority to administer and enforce the Law. Reform Movement redirects here For specific organizations by that name see Reform Movement (disambiguation A reform movement is a kind The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system He was also the younger half-brother of novelist, playwright and chief magistrate Henry Fielding. A novel (from Italian novella, Spanish novela, French nouvelle for "new" "news" or "short story A playwright, also known as a dramatist, is a person who writes dramatic literature or Drama. Henry Fielding ( April 22, 1707 &ndash October 8, 1754) was an English Novelist and Dramatist known for his Despite being blinded in a navy accident at the age of 19, John set up his own business and, in his spare time, studied law with Henry. Blindness is the condition of lacking Visual perception due to Physiological or Neurological factors

Appointed Henry's personal assistant in 1750, John helped him to root out corruption and improve the competence of those engaged in administering justice in London. Year 1750 ( MDCCL) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. They formed the first professional police force, the Bow Street Runners. Police are agents or agencies usually of the executive, empowered to enforce the law and to effect public and social order through the legitimatized use of force The Bow Street Runners have been called London 's first professional Police force. Through the regular circulation of a 'police gazette' containing descriptions of known criminals, Fielding also established the basis for the first police criminal records department. In the sociological field, crime is the breach of a rule or Law for which some governing authority or force may ultimately prescribe a Punishment

When Henry died in 1754, John was appointed magistrate at Bow Street in his place, becoming renowned as the "Blind Beak", and allegedly being able to recognise 3000 criminals by the sounds of their voices. Year 1754 ( MDCCLIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Bow Street is a thoroughfare in Covent Garden, Westminster, London. He also continued to develop his ideas on crime prevention and youth employment. He was knighted in 1761. Knight is the English term for a social position originating in the Middle Ages. Year 1761 ( MDCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a

In popular culture

• A fictionalized Sir John Fielding is the protagonist of eleven historical detective novels (set in Britain's Georgian period), written by the American writer Bruce Cook, under the pseudonym Bruce Alexander. The arts Especially during the mid-18th century the period was marked by cultural vibrancy with the establishment of the British Museum in 1753 and the contributions Bruce Alexander Cook (1932–2003 American author best known for his mystery series (under the pseudonym Bruce Alexander) about the blind magistrate Sir John Fielding
• John Fielding is an important character of the historical detective novel Death in the Dark Walk (1994), written by Deryn Lake.
• John Fielding is portrayed in the 2006 British television film of Sweeney Todd, starring Ray Winstone. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Sweeney Todd is a semi-fictional character who first appeared as one of the Protagonists of a Penny dreadful serial entitled The String of Pearls Raymond Andrew "Ray" Winstone Jr (born 19 February 1957) is an Emmy Award -winning English film and television actor
• The 2008 Channel 4 television series City of Vice is based on the crime investigative work of the Fielding brothers. Channel 4 is a public-service Television and Radio broadcaster in the United Kingdom centred around a television channel of the same name which began City of Vice is a British historical crime drama Television series set in Georgian London and was first screened on the 14 January Iain Glen plays John Fielding. Iain Glen (born 24 June 1961) is a Scottish Film and stage Actor.
• John Fielding is a recurring supporting character in a series of Benjamin Franklin mysteries by Robert Lee Hall -- set in London during the late 1750s. In many instances Fielding himself requests Franklin's help solving a murder.

External links

• The Blind Beak of Bow Street by John Dashney
• Sir John Fielding at the National Portrait Gallery