Samuel Wright was born on 28 February 1843 at Roxburgh Mains in the County of Roxburgh.

 

He joined the County Police of Edinburgh on 20 November 1866. In December that year, he married Margaret Gourlay.

 

Samuel Wright served as a Constable at Davidsons Mains, in the Parish of Cramond near Edinburgh, Granton, Dalkeith and Gorebridge as well as at Headquarters in the Midlothian County Council Buildings in Parliament Square, Edinburgh.

 

He died in service as Deputy Chief Constable of Mid Lothian Constabulary on 2 November 1909 in Edinburgh.

 

The Scotsman newspaper edition of Thursday 4 November 1909 reported the following:

“Death of the Mid Lothian Deputy Chief Constable

 

The death is announced at his residence, Jordan Lane, Edinburgh, of Mr Samuel wright, Deputy Chief Constable of Mid Lothian.

 

Mr Wright had been in indifferent health for some time past. He had been off duty about a fortnight and it was arranged that he should undergo an operation this week for an internal malady, but he died before that took place.

 

A native of Roxburgh, where he was born 64 years ago, Mr wright joined the Mid Lothian Constabulary in 1866. He was made a Sergeant in 1878, and in that capacity was stationed at Dalkeith and subsequently at Headquarters.

 

In 1884 he was promoted Inspector and went to Portobello, and in 1887 he became Superintendent and Deputy Chief Constable.

 

On that occasion, the residents of Portobello made him a presentation on his removal to Edinburgh.

 

He had served under four Chief Constables, Mr List, Mr Johnston, Captain Munro and Colonel Borthwick.

 

A capable and intelligent officer, Mr Wright had the confidence of his superiors, was well liked in the force, and was respected among the public among whom he served.

 

Mr Wright held a Certificate in Competency in Sanitary Science and in 1890 he acted as County Sanitary Inspector for a year until permanent arrangements were made.

 

In the course of his career as a police officer, the deceased had some exciting experiences. These included a fight with a gang of poachers on the Queensferry Road in 1871; and on the same road, he was badly mauled by a drunken Irishman he was trying to arrest. He had to go off duty with slight concussion of the brain. On an occasion in 1878, while at Stow, he had an exciting struggle on the River Gala with a navvy. A number of half-drunken (of whose) comrades stoned the officer.”

 

On Monday 8 November 1909, the Scotsman reported the following:

 

"Funeral of Deputy Chief Constable Wright:

 

On Saturday afternoon, the funeral of the late Deputy Chief Constable Wright, of the Mid Lothian Police took place form his residence at Jordan Lane to Bath Street Cemetery, Portobello.

 

The cortege was followed by a large gathering of relatives and friends, and the County and City Police forces were well represented.

 

There were present among the mourners, Chief Constable Ross, deputy Chief Constable Chisholm and Superintendents Moyes and Forbes of the City Police; Lieutenant Colonel Borthwick and Superintendents Robertson, Dickson and Mann representing the police of Mid, East and West Lothian; Colonel Trotter and Mr A.G.G. Asher of the County Council; Mr R.W. Renton, Procurator Fiscal of the County; and Mr W.B. Robertson, W.S. J.P., Fiscal of the County.

 

On arrival at the cemetery the mourners were considerably augmented by members of the County Constabulary.

 

A number of beautiful wreaths were placed over the grave, notable among which was a handsome everlasting wreath on a marble pedestal, subscribed for by members of the Constabulary in token of their esteem for the late officer.”