Celestin Hennion
| Célestin Hennion | |
|---|---|
Hennion in 1914
|
|
| Born |
8 September 1862 Gommegnies |
| Died | 14 March 1915 (aged 52) Sainte-Adresse |
| Other names | Le géant blond ("The blond giant") |
| Relatives | Davina McCall (great-granddaughter) |
| Awards |
Colonial Medal Knight of the Order of Nichan Iftikhar Officier de la Légion d'honneur Honorary Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Honorary Member (Fourth Class) of the Royal Victorian Order |
| Police career | |
| Allegiance | France |
| Years of service | 1886–1914 |
| Rank | Préfet de Police |
Célestin Hennion CVO (8 September 1862 – 14 March 1915) was a French police officer who rose to head the Prefecture of Police (French: Préfecture de Police). He was responsible for the reorganisation of the Préfecture and the introduction of the Brigades du Tigre, ancestor of the French judicial police. In France, he is considered to be one of the pioneers of modern policing.
Hennion was born in Gommegnies in 1862, to Joseph Ghislain Hannion, a farm labourer, and Mary Catherine Basilaire and he was educated at Lycee Le Quesnoy. After leaving grammar school he joined the French Army, and was posted to Tunisia as part of the 110th Infantry Regiment, from 1880 until 1885 during which time Tunisia became a French Protectorate.
On returning to France he joined the police force and in 1886 was an inspector in a specialised railways squad. Hennion had a rapid rise through the force, and was moved into intelligence work where he investigated organisations intent on over-throwing the Third Republic. During the 1890s, Hennion investigated the counter-evidence provided by Georges Picquart during the Dreyfus affair, becoming a strong supporter of Alfred Dreyfus. Hennion also thwarted several attacks against political figures and the state, including the 1899 coup d'état by Paul Déroulède and was dispatched with additional troops to quell unrest in Rennes during the second Dreyfus trial. In 1899 Hennion was given the responsibility of protecting the French Head of State.
On 30 January 1907, Hennion was made the Director of General Security by Georges Clemenceau, and that year Hennion suggested the creation of mobile police brigades, which later became known as the Brigades du Tigre. Hennion was part of modernist movement within the French republic that included people like Aristide Briand and the other great police reformer of the age Louis Lépine who brought new ideas into French policing introducing forensic equipment and methods of investigation.
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