James MacLeod

James Macleod, Judge of the Supreme Court of the North West Territories.

James Alexander Farquharson Macleod was born in Scotland in 1836. By the time of the March West, Macleod had already proven himself during the Riel Rebellion and had been offered a commission in the British Army. In 1873, he leapt at the chance to join with the NWMP, and it was a good thing he did! Macleod, as second in command, proved his leadership abilities over and over again.

He was well liked by the men who served under him and was considered fair. He worked hard at establishing respect and good relations between the Indigenous people and the NWMP. The Blackfoot gave him the name 'Bull's Head'.

When French resigned, Macleod became commissioner. He served in that capacity for four years. During that time, he established the NWMP as the law of the land in all corners of the Canadian west. He was also instrumental in the negotiations for Treaty 7.

Macleod was already a lawyer when he joined the NWMP. He left the force in 1889 after seven years, to become a judge. He stayed in the west, later becoming the Judge of the Supreme Court of the North West Territories. Macleod died at the age of 58, leaving behind his wife, Mary Drever, and five young children. Many of Macleod's letters to his then fiancée, Mary, are held by the Glenbow Archives and can be read on their website.