James Braidwood

This is the statue of James Braidwood which sits just off the High Street, at the back of St. Giles.

James Braidwood (1800–1861) founded the world's first municipal fire service in Edinburgh in 1824, and was the first director of the London Fire Engine Establishment (the brigade which was eventually to become the London Fire Brigade). He is credited with the development of the modern municipal fire service.[taken from Wikipedia]