Frederick William POTTINGER
Frederick William POTTINGER, Bart
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # nil
Rank: Trooper, Inspector – appointed 1 March 1862
Stations: ?, Lachlan Police District, Forbes
Born: Wednesday 27 April 1831 in India
Served: From 1 November 1860 to 16 February 1865 = 4 years, 3 months, 15 days
Awards: ?
Died: Sunday 9 April 1865
Cause: Accidentally Shot
Age: 33 years, 11 months, 13 days
Funeral: ?
Buried at: St Judes Anglican Church, Randwick, NSW
Further links: https://www.australianpolice.com.au/chief-inspector-of-distilleries-officer-1862/
https://www.australianpolice.com.au/appointments-under-the-new-police-regulation-act-of-1862/
http://www.benhallbushranger.com/p/police.html
Sir Frederick Pottinger was the officer-in-charge of the Lachlan Police District when he came under official scrutiny for riding in a public horse race on 5 January, 1865 and was suspended from duty. He was subsequently dismissed despite the submission of many letters and petitions from the public. On 5 March, 1865 he set out for Sydney to apply for reinstatement, and en route, the coach stopped at Wascoe’s Inn in the Blue Mountains (now the town of Blaxland). Pottinger left the coach for a short time to get some fruit, and as he reboarded to resume the journey a pocket pistol he was carrying in his waistcoat accidentally discharged. The shot entered his body just below the rib cage. Following treatment he appeared to be progressing well and was eventually conveyed to Sydney to recuperate. His condition, however, took a turn for the worse and he died on 9 April.
He had gained a reputation as a most fearless and tireless police officer at a time when the bushranging plague was at its peak. Pottinger was the original subject of the derogatory term “Blind Freddy” – which he certainly did not earn or deserve. Some sources also allege that he had committed suicide that day, but this is highly unlikely considering all the circumstances. Another version of the incident is that he was “showing off” with his pistol to some ladies on the coach when the pistol discharged, which appears to be a far more likely event.
It was originally believed that the wound suffered by Sir Frederick would not be fatal however the Clarence and Richmond Examiner and New England Advertiser of 11 April, 1865 announced the following.
DEATH OF SIR FREDERICK POTTINGER.
Sir Frederick Pottinger, who it will be remembered by our readers, received a gun-shot wound, from the accidental discharge of a small pistol, which he carried in his waistcoat pocket whilst on his way from the Lachlan to Sydney some few weeks back, the ball from which lodged in his body, and could not be extracted, has terminated fatally, Sir Frederick having expired on Sunday last.
Sir Frederick joined the police force about 1857 as a trooper. In 1862 he became an inspector in the newly-formed New South Wales Police Force. Prior to his dismissal he was stationed at Forbes. He was not a serving member when he died.
The broken column indicates a life cut short.
Engraved: SACRED
To the memory of
SIR FREDERICK WILLIAM POTTINGER
–Baronet,
Formerly of the Grenadier Guards,
and for many years a zealous and active
Officer of Police in New South Wales.
Born 27th April, 1831-Died 9th April,1865.
This monument is erected by his friends
in the Colony.
Pottinger: The Baronet Mounted Trooper
To mark the 200th anniversary of the NSW Mounted Police, former member Dick Adams presents the first comprehensive biography of Inspector Sir Frederick William Pottinger—a complex and often misunderstood figure in the early New South Wales Police Force.
Born in India as the second son of British diplomat Sir Henry Pottinger, Frederick was educated at Eton College and commissioned into the Guards Regiment. Upon his father’s death, he inherited the baronetcy—but soon gained notoriety as a gambler and womaniser, allegedly squandering the family fortune before fleeing to the Colony of New South Wales. There, he joined the gold escort as a mounted trooper in Gundagai.
Or so the legend goes.
In this meticulously researched work, Adams draws upon official records, contemporary reports, and personal diaries—including Pottinger’s own and that of one of his troopers—to reconstruct the life of a man who pursued bushrangers like Frank Gardiner and Ben Hall with relentless determination, only to have his career and life tragically cut short.
This biography challenges long-held assumptions, inviting readers to weigh the evidence and form their own conclusions. Chapters explore:
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The formation of the NSW Police Force
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The evolution of mounted policing
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A detailed history of bushranging in colonial Australia
Praise for the Work
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Ken Moroney, former NSW Police Commissioner: “Congratulations not only on the research and publication of this work, but the magnificent presentation.”
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Peter Watt, RFPA member and bestselling author: “A masterpiece of scholarship, proven by meticulous research and presentation.”
Book Details
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Format: A4, case-bound
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Length: 431 pages
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Weight: 2.3kg
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Edition: Limited, not-for-profit
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Price: $60 + $20 postage (at-cost)
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Contact: dickadams372@gmail.com
First published 19 February 2014.
Updated 17 September 2025.
