Edward Henry Blue Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Sir Edward Richard Henry, born in 1850, was a prominent British police officer and a pioneer in the field of fingerprint identification. He served as the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in London from 1903 to 1918, making significant contributions to law enforcement during his tenure.

One of Henry’s most notable achievements was the development of the Henry Classification System for fingerprints. This innovative method, which bears his name, revolutionized criminal identification by allowing fingerprints to be efficiently categorized and retrieved. The system was widely adopted by police forces around the world and remains the basis for modern fingerprint classification.

In recognition of his distinguished service, Henry received numerous honors, including being knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) and a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO). He was also appointed a Companion of the Order of the Star of India (CSI) and a Justice of the Peace (JP). From 1903 to 1920, Sir Edward Henry resided at 19 Sheffield Terrace in the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. This elegant residential area has been home to many notable figures throughout history.

Sir Edward Henry’s legacy as a fingerprint pioneer and dedicated public servant continues to inspire those in the field of law enforcement. His contributions to criminal identification have had a lasting impact on policing practices worldwide, making him a truly remarkable figure in the history of criminology.