Summary: The office of public health inspector was established in England and Wales by the Public Health Act, 1848, marking the beginning of modern public health legislation. The Act created Local Boards of Health and a General Board of Health in London to enforce central government control over local affairs. Public concern over disease outbreaks led to the enactment of laws to protect public health. Important historical events include the appointment of a House of Commons committee in 1840 to investigate urban health issues, and the influential report on the laboring population's sanitary condition in 1842. The role of public health inspectors expanded over time to include duties such as food inspection, sanitary regulations, waste disposal, and disease control. Subsequent Acts like the Metropolis Management Act in 1855 and the appointment of county sanitary officers introduced new dimensions to public health administration. The evolution of public health laws and the establishment of designated inspectors have shaped the public health profession and its regulatory framework.