Richard H. Poillon, who was Fire Commissioner in the City of Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1884 and 1885, was born across the river in New York City. He was the eldest son of Richard Poillon, a member of the firm of C. & R. Poillon, shipbuilders of New York and Brooklyn. He was educated in the public schools and at the Polytechnic Institute from which he graduated in 1864.
He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1867 and graduated from there with high honors in 1871. After leaving West Point he started on a tour around the world and was a member of the party, who, under the direction of the United States Minister Charles E. DeLong, first penetrated into the interior of Japan. Returning from this tour, which occupied about nine months, Mr. Poillon entered the United States regular army as a commissioned officer and served about three years on the frontier, principally California and Arizona. In 1874 he resigned from the army and returned to Brooklyn where he engaged in the lumber business on the Gowanus Canal. Subsequently, he retired from the lumber business to accept the position of Chief Deputy Collector in the Internal Revenue Service under Rodney C. Ward, then Collector of the First District, New York. Mr. Poillon resigned this position in 1882 to accept that of Deputy Fire Commissioner which was tendered to him by Commissioner John N. Partridge, whom he succeeded in 1884.
Although greatly hampered by the passage of the Underground Telegraph Act on June 14, 1884, Commissioner Poillon, believing that he efficiency of the Brooklyn Fire Department was greatly dependent upon the strength of its telegraph service, sent all his energies toward making the latter as effective as possible during his term of office, and succeeded in affording protection to certain sections of the city which had been previously neglected. Commissioner Poillon was present in person and in direct communication with Chief Nevins at all the principal fires which occurred during his term as Commissioner. It was during his administration that the fireboat Seth Low was built, and several necessary companies were organized. Commissioner Poillon favored the organization of an insurance patrol for the protection of the dry goods district; and also, owing to the increase in high buildings, strongly recommended the organization of a life-saving (e.g. rescue) corps.
When he was succeeded by Commissioner Ennis, Mr. Poillon devoted himself to the fire insurance business in Brooklyn and New York. In 1879 he was appointed Engineer officer with the rank of Major on the staff of Brigadier General Edward L. Molineaux.
He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1867 and graduated from there with high honors in 1871. After leaving West Point he started on a tour around the world and was a member of the party, who, under the direction of the United States Minister Charles E. DeLong, first penetrated into the interior of Japan. Returning from this tour, which occupied about nine months, Mr. Poillon entered the United States regular army as a commissioned officer and served about three years on the frontier, principally California and Arizona. In 1874 he resigned from the army and returned to Brooklyn where he engaged in the lumber business on the Gowanus Canal. Subsequently, he retired from the lumber business to accept the position of Chief Deputy Collector in the Internal Revenue Service under Rodney C. Ward, then Collector of the First District, New York. Mr. Poillon resigned this position in 1882 to accept that of Deputy Fire Commissioner which was tendered to him by Commissioner John N. Partridge, whom he succeeded in 1884.
Although greatly hampered by the passage of the Underground Telegraph Act on June 14, 1884, Commissioner Poillon, believing that he efficiency of the Brooklyn Fire Department was greatly dependent upon the strength of its telegraph service, sent all his energies toward making the latter as effective as possible during his term of office, and succeeded in affording protection to certain sections of the city which had been previously neglected. Commissioner Poillon was present in person and in direct communication with Chief Nevins at all the principal fires which occurred during his term as Commissioner. It was during his administration that the fireboat Seth Low was built, and several necessary companies were organized. Commissioner Poillon favored the organization of an insurance patrol for the protection of the dry goods district; and also, owing to the increase in high buildings, strongly recommended the organization of a life-saving (e.g. rescue) corps.
When he was succeeded by Commissioner Ennis, Mr. Poillon devoted himself to the fire insurance business in Brooklyn and New York. In 1879 he was appointed Engineer officer with the rank of Major on the staff of Brigadier General Edward L. Molineaux.
Richard H. Poillon, who was Fire Commissioner in the City of Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1884 and 1885, was born across the river in New York City. He was the eldest son of Richard Poillon, a member of the firm of C. & R. Poillon, shipbuilders of New York and Brooklyn. He was educated in the public schools and at the Polytechnic Institute from which he graduated in 1864.
He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1867 and graduated from there with high honors in 1871. After leaving West Point he started on a tour around the world and was a member of the party, who, under the direction of the United States Minister Charles E. DeLong, first penetrated into the interior of Japan. Returning from this tour, which occupied about nine months, Mr. Poillon entered the United States regular army as a commissioned officer and served about three years on the frontier, principally California and Arizona. In 1874 he resigned from the army and returned to Brooklyn where he engaged in the lumber business on the Gowanus Canal. Subsequently, he retired from the lumber business to accept the position of Chief Deputy Collector in the Internal Revenue Service under Rodney C. Ward, then Collector of the First District, New York. Mr. Poillon resigned this position in 1882 to accept that of Deputy Fire Commissioner which was tendered to him by Commissioner John N. Partridge, whom he succeeded in 1884.
Although greatly hampered by the passage of the Underground Telegraph Act on June 14, 1884, Commissioner Poillon, believing that he efficiency of the Brooklyn Fire Department was greatly dependent upon the strength of its telegraph service, sent all his energies toward making the latter as effective as possible during his term of office, and succeeded in affording protection to certain sections of the city which had been previously neglected. Commissioner Poillon was present in person and in direct communication with Chief Nevins at all the principal fires which occurred during his term as Commissioner. It was during his administration that the fireboat Seth Low was built, and several necessary companies were organized. Commissioner Poillon favored the organization of an insurance patrol for the protection of the dry goods district; and also, owing to the increase in high buildings, strongly recommended the organization of a life-saving (e.g. rescue) corps.
When he was succeeded by Commissioner Ennis, Mr. Poillon devoted himself to the fire insurance business in Brooklyn and New York. In 1879 he was appointed Engineer officer with the rank of Major on the staff of Brigadier General Edward L. Molineaux.
He entered the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1867 and graduated from there with high honors in 1871. After leaving West Point he started on a tour around the world and was a member of the party, who, under the direction of the United States Minister Charles E. DeLong, first penetrated into the interior of Japan. Returning from this tour, which occupied about nine months, Mr. Poillon entered the United States regular army as a commissioned officer and served about three years on the frontier, principally California and Arizona. In 1874 he resigned from the army and returned to Brooklyn where he engaged in the lumber business on the Gowanus Canal. Subsequently, he retired from the lumber business to accept the position of Chief Deputy Collector in the Internal Revenue Service under Rodney C. Ward, then Collector of the First District, New York. Mr. Poillon resigned this position in 1882 to accept that of Deputy Fire Commissioner which was tendered to him by Commissioner John N. Partridge, whom he succeeded in 1884.
Although greatly hampered by the passage of the Underground Telegraph Act on June 14, 1884, Commissioner Poillon, believing that he efficiency of the Brooklyn Fire Department was greatly dependent upon the strength of its telegraph service, sent all his energies toward making the latter as effective as possible during his term of office, and succeeded in affording protection to certain sections of the city which had been previously neglected. Commissioner Poillon was present in person and in direct communication with Chief Nevins at all the principal fires which occurred during his term as Commissioner. It was during his administration that the fireboat Seth Low was built, and several necessary companies were organized. Commissioner Poillon favored the organization of an insurance patrol for the protection of the dry goods district; and also, owing to the increase in high buildings, strongly recommended the organization of a life-saving (e.g. rescue) corps.
When he was succeeded by Commissioner Ennis, Mr. Poillon devoted himself to the fire insurance business in Brooklyn and New York. In 1879 he was appointed Engineer officer with the rank of Major on the staff of Brigadier General Edward L. Molineaux.
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