Edward Lee French

Edward Lee French was born on 22 July 1857, the son of Rev. Frederic French (1823–1907), JP, rector of Worlingworth with Southolt, in Suffolk, and his wife, Anna Maria (d. 1901), eldest daughter of John Davis, JP, DL (d. 1864), of Cranbrooke Park, Essex. The Rev. French's family came from Eye, Suffolk; his father Thomas was banker to the Henniker family, patrons of Worlingworth's rectory. This connexion helped secure Frederic French, newly graduated from the University of Cambridge (BA 1847, MA 1850), the living at Worlingworth, which he held from 1853 to his death in 1907.

Following schooling at Marlborough, Edward French entered the Indian Police in 1879. He was appointed Deputy Inspector-General in the Criminal Investigation Department for the Punjab in 1905. Three years later, he was made Inspector-General of the North-West Frontier Police and then, in 1909, of the Punjab Police. In this capacity, he placed in charge of the police during the Coronation Durbar of 1911, when King-Emperor George V appointed him a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

In 1886, he married Wilna, daughter of David Ross, CIE. He died on 17 May 1916.