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482:, in the last battle fought on Canadian territory. The contributions of the NWMP in putting down the rebellion went largely ignored and unrewarded, to Steele's great annoyance. By 1885, Steele was recalled to Calgary, where he was tasked with organizing and commanding the scouting contingent for Major General T.B. Strange’s Alberta Field Force. Steele’s Scouts performed well, which led to his promotion to superintendent after the rebellion. He established an NWMP station in the town of Galbraiths Ferry, which was later named to
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532:, and at Lake Bennett. He was noted for his hard line with the hundreds of unruly and independent-minded prospectors, many of them American. To help control the situation, he established the rule that no one would be allowed to enter the Yukon without a ton of goods to support himself, thus preventing the entry of desperate and potentially-unruly speculators and adventurers.
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In 1887, Steele was ordered to take “D” Division to southeastern
British Columbia, where the provincial government had mismanaged relations with the Ktunaxa (Kootenay) nation to the point that violence was threatened. Steele’s men built Fort Steele on the Kootenay River, and he resolved the situation
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one of the most orderly of its kind in history and made the NWMP famous around the world, which ensured its survival at a critical time, as the force's dissolution was being debated in
Parliament. By July 1898, Steele commanded all the NWMP in the Yukon area, and was a member of the territorial
576:, where Steele commanded them with distinction in the role of reconnaissance scouts. Steele, however, apparently disliked greatly what he was ordered to do by the British, which included burning towns, farms and homesteads, killing livestock of the Boer families and moving the populace to
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insisted that Steele also be made commander of all
Canadian troops in Europe, a slight problem, as there were two brigadier-generals who each believed the Canadian command was his. The issue was not resolved until 1916, when the new Minister of Overseas Military Forces of Canada, Sir
623:, removed Steele from his Canadian command after Steele refused to return to Canada as a recruiter. He kept his British command until his retirement on 15 July 1918. While in Britain, Steele was knighted, on 1 January 1918, and was made a Companion of the
680:. Steele's papers, believed by historians to contain a wealth of heretofore untold stories that would "re-write Canadian history" had been held by British descendants of Steele, and were returned via a $ 1.8 million purchase by the
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In 2020, the
Orillia Museum of Art and History put on an exhibit of some of Steele’s correspondence with Thomas Blaney of Orillia, who helped Steele look after his family affairs while Steele was out of the country.
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through patient diplomacy with Chief
Isadore. The division returned to Fort Macleod in the summer of 1888, and Steele commanded that post, the largest outside NWMP headquarters in Regina, for the next decade.
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until the formation was sent to France, whereupon he would be replaced. After accompanying the division to
England, Steele was offered an administrative post as commanding officer of the South-East District.
588:(MVO), a personal gift from the King. On its return to Canada the regiment was disbanded, and the officers received honorary promotions. Steele was promoted to honorary lieutenant colonel in March 1901.
424:, Manitoba. To him fell the rank of staff sergeant major and the responsibility, as an accomplished horseman and man-at-arms, of drilling the new recruits. In 1878, Steele was given his own command at
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council. As the force reported directly to Ottawa, Steele had almost free rein to run things as he chose, always with an eye towards maintaining law, order, and
Canadian sovereignty. He moved to
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in the late 1890s presented Steele with a new challenge. Although he campaigned unsuccessfully for the position of assistant commissioner in 1892, in
January 1898, he was sent to succeed
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in August 1914. He was initially rejected for command on the grounds of age. However, a compromise was reached which allowed him to act as commander of the
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595:, a position he held until 1906. On his return to Canada in 1907, Steele assumed command of Military Division No. 13 in Alberta and the
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After taking the unit back to Canada early in 1901, Steele returned to South Africa that same year to command 'B' Division of the
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937:(Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1914; Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1972; Toronto: Coles, 1973; Toronto: Prospero, 2000).
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attempted to persuade
Sitting Bull to return to the United States. (Most of the Sioux returned a few years later.)
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Forty Years in Canada: Reminiscences of the Great North-West, with Some
Account of His Service in South Africa.
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564:(predecessor of the modern armoured unit, Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)), with the appointment as
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On 19 June 2008, Steele's wealth of personal papers and writings were repatriated to Canada in a ceremony in
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186:(5 January 1848 – 30 January 1919) was a Canadian soldier and policeman. He was an officer of the
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In 1889, at Fort Macleod, he met Marie-Elizabeth de Lotbinière-Harwood (1859–1951), daughter of
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first regular army unit. Steele had long been fascinated by the West, devouring the works of
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in British Columbia, after Steele solved a murder in the town. He then moved on to
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813:"A History in Stone: A guide to the historic graveyard of St. John's Cathedral"
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254:. Steele received his education at the family home, Purbrook, and then at the
930:, Ed. James H. Marsh (Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1999), p. 2251.
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892:"Sam Steele: Letters from the Past", Orillia Museum of Art and History.
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unit, in British Imperial service, was sent to South Africa during the
470:, where Big Bear's warriors defeated the Canadian forces under General
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Matters were complicated, however, when Canadian Minister of Defence
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Following his family's military tradition, in 1866 Steele joined the
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Canadian Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
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as commissioner and to establish customs posts at the head of the
412:
In 1873, Steele was the third officer sworn into the newly formed
239:
951:, Ed. W. Stewart Wallace (Toronto: Macmillan, 1978). p. 792.
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during a visit to Buckingham Palace. Steele was also appointed a
705:
A Medonte Pioneer and his Famous Son, Orillia Historical Society
602:
Steele requested active military duty upon the outbreak of the
552:
Always a soldier, in early 1900, Steele leapt at the offer of
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The Macmillan Dictionary of Canadian Biography (4th edition)
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Personal papers of famous Mountie shed light on young Canada
458:, Steele was dispatched with a small force. Missing the
911:
The Wild Frontier, More Tales from the Remarkable Past
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Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George
913:(Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 1978), chapter 3.
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just after his 71st birthday. He was interred at the
302:. Much to his disappointment, he arrived after the
242:. Neil MacDonald was a grandson of Captain Godfrey
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1171:Persons of National Historic Significance (Canada)
1101:Canadian military personnel of the Second Boer War
928:The Canadian Encyclopedia : Year 2000 Edition
923:(Toronto: Knopf Canada, 2003), p. 8-9, 54–55.
586:Member of the Royal Victorian Order (fourth class)
318:in his youth. He was especially interested in the
306:had surrendered. The following year he joined the
926:R. C. Macleod, "Steele, Sir Samuel Benfield", in
230:, and one of six brothers to have served in the
420:, when he returned to Fort Garry, present-day
142:First commanding officer of Strathcona's Horse
1091:Canadian Members of the Royal Victorian Order
8:
23:. For the sportscaster Samantha Steele, see
921:Character Parts: Who's Really Who in CanLit
380:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
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439:, who, having defeated Lieutenant Colonel
190:, head of the Yukon detachment during the
62:
31:
715:Ontario Historical Society, Volumes 32-35
400:Learn how and when to remove this message
1141:Members of the Yukon Territorial Council
1096:Canadian military personnel from Ontario
286:) was commissioned as an officer in the
222:), he was the son of Royal Navy Captain
68:Col Steele commanding Strathcona's Horse
1186:Royal Military College of Canada alumni
967:Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
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1181:Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers
435:In 1877, he was assigned to meet with
1176:Pre-Confederation Saskatchewan people
1126:Infectious disease deaths in Manitoba
19:For the hockey player born 1998, see
7:
1121:Deaths from the Spanish flu pandemic
378:adding citations to reliable sources
144:head of the Yukon detachment of the
16:Canadian soldier and police official
1116:Companions of the Order of the Bath
1111:Canadian people of Scottish descent
548:Boer War and second military career
334:in the Lisgar Lodge No. 2, in
1156:People of the North-West Rebellion
1038:GOC 2nd Canadian Infantry Division
947:"Steele, Sir Samuel Benfield", in
801:. 20 September 1901. p. 6173.
290:. Steele also participated in the
14:
1161:People of the Red River Rebellion
650:Canada's fifth-tallest mountain,
625:Most Honourable Order of the Bath
568:from 7 March 1900. This Canadian
276:35th Simcoe Battalion of Infantry
1151:People of the Klondike Gold Rush
1136:Lord Strathcona's Horse officers
1081:Canadian generals of World War I
1012:The Sir Samuel Steele Collection
998:Gray, Charlotte (October 2010),
942:Sam Steele, Lion of the Frontier
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256:Royal Military College of Canada
123:Royal Military College of Canada
1016:University of Alberta Libraries
844:. Canadian Army. Archived from
288:31st Grey Battalion of Infantry
210:Born into a military family at
1131:Legion of Frontiersmen members
627:, and Knight Commander of the
558:Donald Smith, Baron Strathcona
535:Steele and his force made the
1:
781:. 8 March 1901. p. 1648.
761:. 6 March 1900. p. 1524.
678:Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
516:The discovery of gold in the
989:"Sir Samuel Benfield Steele"
194:, and commanding officer of
727:"The Canadian Encyclopedia"
468:Battle of Frenchman's Butte
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1191:Writers from Simcoe County
1146:People of the Fenian raids
984:Steele's Masonic biography
819:. Winnipeg, Manitoba. 2023
593:South African Constabulary
171:Sir Samuel Benfield Steele
18:
1106:Canadian Militia officers
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731:The Canadian Encyclopedia
414:North-West Mounted Police
236:MacDonald of Ardnamurchan
188:North-West Mounted Police
146:North-West Mounted Police
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933:Samuel Benfield Steele,
554:Canadian Pacific Railway
480:District of Saskatchewan
466:. He was present at the
113:, London, United Kingdom
1166:People from Dawson City
944:(Regina: Centax, 1999).
875:4 November 2012 at the
639:Steele died during the
505:. They were married at
441:George Armstrong Custer
654:, is named after him.
647:Cemetery in Winnipeg.
503:Robert William Harwood
430:North-West Territories
224:Elmes Yelverton Steele
160:Elmes Yelverton Steele
78:Samuel Benfield Steele
817:Cathedral of St. John
682:University of Alberta
645:Cathedral of St. John
608:2nd Canadian Division
597:District of Mackenzie
316:James Fenimore Cooper
294:in 1870 to fight the
472:Thomas Bland Strange
456:North-West Rebellion
374:improve this section
292:Red River Expedition
278:and after moving to
274:, first joining the
232:British Armed Forces
94:, Province of Canada
851:on 23 November 2003
578:concentration camps
544:in September 1898.
522:Charles Constantine
492:District of Alberta
296:Red River Rebellion
226:, a veteran of the
1076:Canadian Anglicans
993:Collections Canada
798:The London Gazette
778:The London Gazette
758:The London Gazette
733:. Historica Canada
566:lieutenant-colonel
562:Strathcona's Horse
537:Klondike Gold Rush
216:Province of Canada
196:Strathcona's Horse
192:Klondike Gold Rush
150:Klondike Gold Rush
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1045:Succeeded by
1025:Military offices
839:"Steele Barracks"
641:1918 flu pandemic
460:Battle of Batoche
449:Alfred Howe Terry
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105:(1919-01-30)
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1071:1919 deaths
1066:1848 births
917:Brian Busby
855:17 February
793:"No. 27357"
773:"No. 27292"
753:"No. 27171"
542:Dawson City
494:, in 1888.
484:Fort Steele
454:During the
310:artillery,
284:Collingwood
270:during the
198:during the
148:during the
1060:Categories
1005:The Walrus
979:Sam Steele
881:Canada.com
737:17 January
692:References
616:Sam Hughes
582:Edward VII
418:March West
324:Fort Henry
300:Louis Riel
280:Clarksburg
206:Early life
84:1848-01-05
962:Biography
725:Macleod.
507:Vaudreuil
476:Loon Lake
361:does not
332:Freemason
21:Sam Steel
1032:New post
873:Archived
823:2 August
518:Klondike
513:(1929).
464:Big Bear
422:Winnipeg
312:Canada's
200:Boer War
132:Soldier
964:at the
556:tycoon
443:at the
382:removed
367:sources
220:Ontario
282:(near
250:under
248:Quebec
156:Father
111:Putney
849:(PDF)
842:(PDF)
526:White
304:MĂ©tis
240:Islay
218:(now
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857:2008
825:2023
739:2024
528:and
365:any
363:cite
175:KCMG
100:Died
74:Born
46:KCMG
977:of
672:in
376:by
326:in
298:of
183:MVO
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815:.
795:.
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729:.
684:.
631:.
490:,
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214:,
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179:CB
50:CB
1018:)
1014:(
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827:.
741:.
403:)
397:(
392:)
388:(
384:.
370:.
86:)
82:(
27:.
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