Commissioned by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Veterans Association for Alberta’s Centennial, this memorial honours a commanding figure in Canadian history, Colonel James Alexander Farquharson Macleod. He is depicted in the elaborate uniform of second commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police and sits on his horse. The statue was created by renowned bronze sculptor Don Begg of Studio West Bronze Foundry Ltd. A replica of this statue was unveiled at Headquarters in Ottawa by Commissioner Zaccardelli on November 11, 2005.
James was born in 1836 in Drynoch, Isle of Skye, Scotland and emigrated to Canada with his family in the summer of 1845. Years of life on the farm influenced him at least as powerfully as his schooling and the family’s friendship with a family of local Ojibwa Indigenous imparted to James a lifelong respect and admiration for the native people of Canada.
His father lost seven brothers to tropical diseases while they were serving in the military and had himself fallen seriously ill while on military service in Demerara (Guyana). He left Scotland to avoid a similar fate for his sons. In the summer of 1856, Farquharson joined the Volunteer Militia Field Battery of Kingston as a lieutenant and was offered a commission in the British army. His father was horrified and insisted that the offer be refused.
In 1860, James passed his bar examinations at Osgoode Hall. For the next decade he practiced law at Bowmanville and retained a strong interest in the militia. Transferred in 1862 to the Bowmanville Volunteer Militia Rifle Company (which became part of the 45th (West Durham) Battalion of Infantry four years later), he was promoted to captain in 1863 and major in 1866. He served in the Trent Affair in 1861 and the Fenian Raids of 1866. In 1870, he obtained a commission as brigade major with the expedition sent to quell the uprising in the Red River settlement, Manitoba. He remained with the Canadian militia force at Lower Fort Garry until the spring of 1871 and returned to Ontario.
He was promoted lieutenant-colonel in the 45th Battalion of Infantry in December 1871. In late 1872 he left for England and Scotland and in the spring of 1873 Prime Minister Macdonald offered him a commission as superintendent and inspector in the newly established North-West Mounted Police. He accepted, returned to Canada and in October he left Collingwood, Ontario for Upper Fort Garry (Winnipeg) with several other officers and 150 men. During the winter of 1873–74 they began the training and organization of the North-West Mounted Police. In December he commanded the first patrol and on June 1, 1874, he was the first appointed assistant commissioner.
James set the tone of patience, reason, and diplomacy for North-West Mounted Police dealings with Indigenous peoples which survived until the 1890s. He was appointed as stipendiary magistrate for the North-West Territories on January 1, 1876, and left the force to then return to the force as commissioner on July 22, 1876. At the end of September 1880 Macleod resigned as commissioner and devoted his time to his judicial duties.