Henry Inman's task as a newly arrived 21-year-old cavalry officer in 1838 was to create a professional police force from scratch and bring law and order to an isolated settlement on the southern coast of Australia. This biography details his rise and then demise from the police force and how he was all but written out of history. Cavalry officer, police commander, overlander, mathematics teacher and Anglican minister, Inman left a significant legacy at many levels. Max Slee has succeeded in writing him back into history and has righted a great wrong. Inman founded SAPOL and laid the foundations for its unique culture, which became the model for other modern law enforcement agencies to follow
In 1838 the infant British colony of South Australia suffered its first crime wave. Twenty-one year old Henry Inman, a decorated cavalry officer, was appointed to create and command a police force, bringing law and order to the fragile settlement. This biography on Inman - the first published - therefore narrates the genesis of the South Australia Police. Inman zealously established the rule of law at the fragile frontiers of colonial settlement, pursuing murderers and bushrangers, one of whom he captured at Inman Valley, which is named after him. Financial management - a lifelong weakness - then caused his dismissal. Taking on overlanding livestock in 1841, he was almost fatally speared. He then unintentionally provoked lethal hostilities with Aboriginals at the Rufus River, resulting in his financial ruin. To support his growing family he taught mathematics in Sydney before returning to England in 1848 to join the rural clergy. It was said that he was a most amiable young man, who `with favouring circumstances' would become a credit to his family. But, despite many notable achievements, he was beset by misfortune and personal failings. Now, following comprehensive research, this chronicle reveals his remarkable life and exploits. Includes bibliographical references and index.
Local notes
In 1838 the infant British colony of South Australia suffered its first crime wave. Twenty-one year old Henry Inman, a decorated cavalry officer, was appointed to create and command a police force, bringing law and order to the fragile settlement. This biography on Inman - the first published - therefore narrates the genesis of the South Australia Police. Inman zealously established the rule of law at the fragile frontiers of colonial settlement, pursuing murderers and bushrangers, one of whom he captured at Inman Valley, which is named after him. Financial management - a lifelong weakness - then caused his dismissal. Taking on overlanding livestock in 1841, he was almost fatally speared. He then unintentionally provoked lethal hostilities with Aboriginals at the Rufus River, resulting in his financial ruin. To support his growing family he taught mathematics in Sydney before returning to England in 1848 to join the rural clergy. It was said that he was a most amiable young man, who `with favouring circumstances' would become a credit to his family. But, despite many notable achievements, he was beset by misfortune and personal failings. Now, following comprehensive research, this chronicle reveals his remarkable life and exploits.
Includes bibliographical references and index.