Tax Officer ~ Early 1800's ....?

[Steve G]

Trying to get a handle on what sort of character may be of this occupation, around then.

Sounds a bit pillar of the community. But, then, the first Policemen were simply hard as nails types who knew their way around the local villains.

Would this be an educated and respectable man? Or simply someone capable of ensuring one handed over due taxes, when he appeared at ye door? Or what?

Many thanks for any insight.

[philipsearching]

To (over)simplify - tax collection in Britain at the time was largely of three types:
Customs - tax on imports. There were offices at seaports where taxes were collected.  Smuggling was countered by quasi-military units in boats or on horseback.
Excise - tax on domestic produce (collected either at source or from retailers).
Property and other taxes (land, formerly hearths, windows etc.)

A person described as a tax (or revenue/preventive/customs/excise) officer would not necessarily be comparable to a military officer.  To compare with army ranks a group of tax officers could comprise the equivalent of a captain, a sergeant and up to a dozen privates.

[Steve G]

Thanks, Philip. I've been burrowing away here.  Getting the impression the earlier, 'lower rank' sort of guys may well have been employed more on their ability to look after themselves, rather than which school they attended.

I'm just chasing up a hard won clue, see? It's still a bit ambiguous. And the guys name isn't quite right anyway. May well be I'm trying to get a square peg into a round hole.

I'll keep a note of all this and burrow on.
Thanks for the in put 

[youngtug]

Robert Burns ended up a tax collector/excise man.
http://www.robertburns.org.uk/robertburns_exciseman.htm

[Steve G]

Tuggist!  So; This is what ye get up to, whilst lurking in the Chat, eh?

Right'o, mate. I honestly think that's about nailed it. This is Not the man I'm hunting, after all 

Bugger! Never mind. I'm refreshed in my determination anyway. I'm working a fresh angle now. I'll find him! 

Cheers, Tuggist.