ABSTRACT
In 1805, seventeen-year-old James Shaw joined the Forty-third Regiment of Infantry, at Hythe in Kent, as an ensign. The opportunity to test his theories lay not far off. In 1836, Shaw-Kennedy was asked to take command of the reformed Irish Constabulary. He accepted, and took up his appointment officially on June 1, 1836. The officer corps of the Constabulary consisted of Shaw-Kennedy as inspector-general, two deputy inspectors-general, four provincial inspectors, 35 sub-inspectors, and 18 paymasters. Shaw-Kennedy also established a system of ratings analogous to ranks in the army: sub-constables to privates, constables to sergeants, head constables to sergeants-major, and first and second class chief constables to subaltern captains. Colonel Shaw-Kennedy's tenure as inspector-general lasted only from June 1, 1836, until March 15, 1838. Constables in their districts became the eyes and ears of authority expert at the "unceasing state of watching" once advocated by Colonel Shaw-Kennedy.
