Richard Birnie

Sir Richard Birnie (c. 1760 – 1832) was a Scottish police magistrate in London, who came to prominence for his involvement with the Cato Street Conspiracy.

At the request of the Duke of Northumberland he was placed in the commission of the peace, and began to frequent the Bow Street Magistrates' Court.

[1] At the funeral of Queen Caroline in August 1821 Birnie took the initiative in reading the Riot Act, which Sir Robert Baker, the chief magistrate, refused to do.

[1] Shortly afterwards Baker resigned; he had been criticised, for example by the Tory Harriet Arbuthnot for his soft line, in the violent circumstances where there had already been deaths.

[1] In 1823, Birnie refused to enforce the unpopular Poor rate in Acton, causing it to be reduced for some householders.