Sam Steele facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Major General
Sir Samuel Steele
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Col Steele commanding Strathcona's Horse
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Samuel Benfield Steele
5 January 1848 Medonte Township, Province of Canada
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| Died | 30 January 1919 (aged 71) Putney, London, United Kingdom
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| Alma mater | Royal Military College of Canada |
| Occupation | Soldier police officer |
| Known for | First commanding officer of Strathcona's Horse head of the Yukon detachment of the North-West Mounted Police during the Klondike Gold Rush |
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Major General Sir Samuel Benfield Steele (January 5, 1848 – January 30, 1919) was a famous Canadian soldier and police officer. He was an officer in the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP). He is best known for leading the NWMP in the Yukon during the exciting Klondike Gold Rush. He also commanded a special cavalry unit called Strathcona's Horse during the Boer War.
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Early Life and Family
Samuel Steele was born into a military family on January 5, 1848. His birthplace was Medonte Township, which is now in Ontario, Canada. His father, Elmes Yelverton Steele, was a Royal Navy Captain. He had fought in the Napoleonic Wars. Samuel's mother was Anne Macdonald.
Samuel was educated at home and later at the Royal Military College of Canada. He became an orphan at age 13. After that, he lived with his older half-brother, John Steele.
Joining the Military
Following his family's tradition, Samuel Steele joined the Canadian Militia in 1866. This was during the Fenian raids, when Irish-American groups tried to invade Canada. He first joined the 35th Simcoe Battalion of Infantry. Later, he became an officer in the 31st Grey Battalion of Infantry.
In 1870, Steele took part in the Wolseley expedition. This expedition went to fight the Red River Rebellion led by Louis Riel. Steele was disappointed because the Métis people had already surrendered when he arrived.
The next year, he joined Canada's first regular army unit, the Permanent Force artillery. Steele loved learning about the Canadian West. He spent time with First Nations and Métis people, learning from them. He also worked as an instructor at the Artillery School in Kingston, Ontario.
A Life as a Mountie
In 1873, Samuel Steele became one of the first officers in the new North-West Mounted Police (NWMP). He was the third officer to be sworn in. In 1874, he helped lead the new NWMP recruits on the famous March West. This long journey took them across the prairies to establish law and order. Steele was a skilled horseman and was in charge of training the new recruits.
In 1878, Steele was given his own command at Fort Qu'Appelle in the Northwest Territories.
Meeting Sitting Bull
In 1877, Steele was sent to meet with Sitting Bull. Sitting Bull was a famous Sioux leader. He had moved his people into Canada after defeating U.S. forces at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Steele, along with a U.S. Army general, tried to convince Sitting Bull to return to the United States. Most of the Sioux did return a few years later.
North-West Rebellion
During the North-West Rebellion in 1885, Steele was sent with a small group of Mounties. He missed the main Battle of Batoche. His group was sent to deal with the last rebel force led by Big Bear. Steele was present at the Battle of Frenchman's Butte. Later, Steele and his Mounties defeated Big Bear's force at Battle of Loon Lake. This was the last battle fought on Canadian land.
After the rebellion, Steele was promoted to superintendent. He set up an NWMP station in a town called Galbraiths Ferry. This town was later named Fort Steele, British Columbia in his honor. He then moved to Fort Macleod in 1888.
Keeping Peace in British Columbia
In 1887, Steele and his "D" Division were sent to southeastern British Columbia. There, the government had problems with the Ktunaxa (Kootenay) nation. Steele's men built Fort Steele on the Kootenay River. He used calm talks to solve the problems with Chief Isadore. This helped prevent violence.
In 1889, Steele married Marie-Elizabeth de Lotbinière-Harwood at Vaudreuil, Quebec. They had three children.
The Klondike Gold Rush
The discovery of gold in the Klondike, Yukon in the late 1890s brought a new challenge for Steele. In 1898, he was sent to lead the NWMP in the Yukon. He set up customs posts at the start of the White Pass and Chilkoot Pass trails.
Steele was very strict with the many gold prospectors. Many of them were American and quite unruly. To keep order, he made a rule: no one could enter the Yukon without a ton of supplies. This stopped desperate people from entering and causing trouble.
Steele and his force made the Klondike Gold Rush one of the most orderly gold rushes in history. This made the NWMP famous worldwide. It also helped save the force from being shut down by Parliament. By July 1898, Steele commanded all NWMP in the Yukon. He moved to Dawson City in September 1898.
Boer War and Later Military Career
In 1900, Steele became the first commanding officer of Strathcona's Horse. This was a cavalry unit created by Donald Smith, 1st Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal. Steele, now a lieutenant-colonel, led this Canadian unit in South Africa during the Second Boer War. They were excellent scouts.
After the war, the regiment went to London in February 1901. There, King Edward VII gave them medals. Steele also received a special award from the King. The regiment then returned to Canada and was disbanded. Steele was promoted to honorary lieutenant colonel.
Steele returned to South Africa in 1901. He commanded a division of the South African Constabulary until 1906. When he came back to Canada in 1907, he took command of military divisions in Alberta and Winnipeg. He spent time preparing his memoirs (life story).
World War I
When World War I began in 1914, Steele wanted to serve actively. He was initially thought too old for command. However, he was allowed to command the 2nd Canadian Division until it went to France. After taking the division to England, Steele was given an administrative role there.
Steele was knighted on January 1, 1918. He also received other important honors. Sir Samuel Steele died on January 30, 1919, during the 1918 flu pandemic. He was 71 years old. He was buried in Winnipeg.
Canada's fifth-tallest mountain, Mount Steele, is named after him. CFB Edmonton, a military base, is now called Steele Barracks. This is in honor of Major General Steele.
Personal Papers
On June 19, 2008, many of Steele's personal papers and writings were brought back to Canada. This happened in a ceremony in Trafalgar Square in London. Historians believe these papers contain many untold stories that could "rewrite Canadian history." The University of Alberta bought Steele's papers for $1.8 million from his British descendants.
In 2020, the Orillia Museum of Art and History showed some of Steele’s letters. These letters were with Thomas Blaney, who helped Steele with his family matters while Steele was away.
