# Christopher Brandon, Superintendent of Police, Dartford

Christopher Brandon was born into the British Navy Royal Artillery at the Eastbourne Barracks in Sussex on August 16, 1806. All that is known about his family is that his parents, Lavydike and Elizabeth Brandon, had two additional daughters, Mary and Rosehannah. Christopher went on to join the British Navy and later became a Kent police Constable and ultimately Superintendent of the Dartford Constabulary.

## British Royal Navy, 1818–1834

In 1818 at age 12, Christopher, joined the Royal Artillery 3rd Battalion at Eastbourne, Sussex with Soldiers number 235. On August 13, 1830, Christopher became an Able Seaman aboard the HMS Prince Regent in Sheerness, Scotland. HMS Prince Regent (1823) participated in several battles off the coast of Portugal during the Liberal Wars, 1832–1833, when the British intervened on behalf of Dom Pedro I to depose his brother Miguel I.
Christopher married Sarah Ann Hill at St Luke's Church, Charlton, Kent on March 20, 1832. The couple would produce eleven children.
On June 15, 1833, Christopher Brandon would be promoted to 'Conductor of Rockets' in the ship-based Rocket Brigade aboard the HMS Prince Regent while attacking Lisbon. He commanded several Congreve rocket barrages against enemy ships and targets on shore, including Lisbon itself.
A segment of the timeline kept by Christopher Brandon, in his personal diary during the 1832/1833 Naval Campaign in Lisbon
1832
Sep 17 Hill fired 4 - 6 pounders; Sep 21 - Hill fired one; Sep 22 - Hill fired 3 - 6 pounders; Sep 29 - Hill at Donna Maria's (sailing ship) Battery fired 74 rockets; Oct 3 - Hill & Creamor wounded; Oct 9 - Hill laid 3 vollies of 6 pounders in 3 different parts of his Battery & remained in the Battery all night; Oct 26 - Bagley ordered on shore.
1833
Mar 4 - Hill ordered to St John de Fox with all the Rockets that was in Oporto; Mar 15 - By order of General Saldanah, Ryan & Hill were to surprise the enemy by firing 3 - 12 pounders & 4 -12 pounders Rockets which surprised the General and all the officers present even the General shook hands with us and thanked us for our good services; Mar 23 - Ryan & Hill ordered out with Rockets at night fired 12 -6 pounder rockets; Mar 27 - Ryan & Hill fired 3 rockets across the water, to protect the bank working; Mar 28 - Ryan & Hill fired 6 rockets across the water. Jun 26 - Hill was ordered for an experiment with Mr Anderson. Fired 3 - 32 pounders, 5 - 18 pounders, & 3 - 12 pounders and 3 - 6 pounders with satisfaction to the General; Battle of Cape St. Vincent Jul 8 - I was ordered by the General to place a portion of rockets at the light house and General Saldanah's 40 - 6 pounders at the light house Battery and I deposited 6 & 40 - 3 pounders at Gen Saldanah's Battery where I am stationed; Jul 16 - Ryan died; Jul 25 - Hill fired 49 rockets.

## Superintendent of Police Dartford, 1850–1872

Christopher, aged 30, joined the Kent Constabulary in Dartford May 27, 1835, with constable warrant number 10509. A look into the daily activity of Christopher in his role as Police Constable, recapturing an escaped convict on February 20, 1840.
In early 1850 Christopher was promoted to Dartford Superintendent, according to multiple newspaper articles of the time. On February 7, 1857, Christopher was promoted to Superintendent of Dartford Upper division of Sutton-at-Hone, Kent. Shortly after his promotion, on April 30, 1858, Christopher was involved in the hunt for several escaped convicts from a train at Fawkham near Dartford. There are many other newspaper articles describing his activities and court cases during his time as a policeman, from the early days through his retirement on April 16, 1872.
Christopher Brandon passed away on January 25, 1895, aged 88 in Dartford.
Notice of the death of Mr. Christopher Brandon.
"We regret to have to note the death of Mr. Christopher Brandon, of New Town, Dartford, who expired on Saturday last, at the very advanced age of 88 years. In early life the deceased was in the army, in an Artillery regiment, and took part in active foreign service; but later on he became connected with the police, and was for many years superintendent of the Dartford force, before the present County Constabulary system became perfected. Prior to the advent of Supt. Fread, whose energy and increased force led to the clearance of many of the roughest fellows of the town, Dartford had a rather unenviable reputation in this respect, and at election times and on Guy Fawkes' celebrations Supt. Brandon had difficult tasks set him in the preservation of order. He carried out his duties, however, to the credit of himself and satisfaction of the community, and retired from his position about 20, years ago, superannuated. He has been a highly respected resident, and much sympathy will, we are sure, be felt for his son, Mr. E. Hill Brandon, our townsman, and an accomplished artist. The funeral took place at four o'clock on Thursday afternoon, at Dartford Cemetery, and was conducted by Messrs. Quait and Standen, undertakers, of High-street. The coffin was borne to the place of interment in a pair-horsed funeral car, two mourning carriages conveying the relatives."