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Major-general Sir Samuel Benfield Steele KCMG CB MVO (5 January 1848 – 30 January 1919) was a Canadian soldier and policeman. He was an officer of the North-West Mounted Police, head of the Yukon detachment during the Klondike Gold Rush, and commanding officer of Strathcona's Horse during the Boer War.

Key Information

Early life

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Born into a military family at Medonte Township, Province of Canada (now Ontario), he was the son of Royal Navy Captain Elmes Yelverton Steele, a veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, and one of six brothers to have served in the British Armed Forces. His mother (his father's second wife), Anne Macdonald, was the youngest daughter of Neil Maclain MacDonald of Ardnamurchan, a native of Islay. Neil MacDonald was a grandson of Captain Godfrey MacNeil of Barra, and a nephew of Colonel Donald MacNeil.[1] Steele was named for his father's uncle, Colonel Samuel Steele, who served in Quebec under Lord Amherst.[2] Steele received his education at the family home, Purbrook, and then at the Royal Military College of Canada. By the age of 13 he was orphaned, and went to live with his elder half-brother, John Steele.[citation needed]

Early military

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Following his family's military tradition, in 1866 Steele joined the Canadian Militia during the Fenian raids, first joining the 35th Simcoe Battalion of Infantry and after moving to Clarksburg (near Collingwood) was commissioned as an officer in the 31st Grey Battalion of Infantry. Steele also participated in the Red River Expedition in 1870 to fight the Red River Rebellion of Louis Riel.[3] Much to his disappointment, he arrived after the Métis had surrendered. The following year he joined the Permanent Force artillery, Canada's first regular army unit. Steele had long been fascinated by the West, devouring the works of James Fenimore Cooper in his youth. He was especially interested in the First Nations, and spent his time in the West learning from them and the Métis. However, he was assigned to Fort Henry in Kingston, Ontario, for the next few years, as an instructor at the Artillery School. In 1874, Steele was initiated as a Freemason in the Lisgar Lodge No. 2, in Selkirk, Manitoba.[citation needed]

Life as Mountie

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In 1873, Steele was the third officer sworn into the newly formed North-West Mounted Police (NWMP), entering as a staff constable. He was one of the officers to lead the new recruits of the NWMP on the 1874 March West, when he returned to Fort Garry, present-day Winnipeg, 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 Fort Qu'Appelle, North-West Territories.

In 1877, he was assigned to meet with Sitting Bull, who, having defeated Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer at the Little Bighorn, had moved with his people into Canada to escape American vengeance. Steele along with U.S. Army Major General Alfred Howe Terry attempted to persuade Sitting Bull to return to the United States. (Most of the Sioux returned a few years later.)

During the North-West Rebellion, Steele was dispatched with a small force. Missing the Battle of Batoche, the Mounties were sent to move against the last resistance force led by Big Bear. He was present at the Battle of Frenchman's Butte, where Big Bear's warriors defeated the Canadian forces under General Thomas Bland Strange. Two weeks later, Steele and his two dozen Mounties defeated Big Bear's force at Loon Lake, District of Saskatchewan, 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 Fort Steele in British Columbia, after Steele solved a murder in the town. He then moved on to Fort Macleod, District of Alberta, in 1888.

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 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.

In 1889, at Fort Macleod, he met Marie-Elizabeth de Lotbinière-Harwood (1859–1951), daughter of Robert William Harwood. They were married at Vaudreuil, Quebec, in 1890. They had three children, including Harwood Steele, who fictionalized episodes from his father's life in novels such as Spirit-of-Iron (1929).

The discovery of gold in the Klondike 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 Charles Constantine as commissioner and to establish customs posts at the head of the White and Chilkoot Passes, 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.

Steele and his force made the Klondike Gold Rush 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 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 Dawson City in September 1898.

Boer War and second military career

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Always a soldier, in early 1900, Steele leapt at the offer of Canadian Pacific Railway tycoon Donald Smith, Baron Strathcona, to be the first commanding officer of Smith's privately-raised cavalry unit, Strathcona's Horse (predecessor of the modern armoured unit, Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)), with the appointment as lieutenant-colonel from 7 March 1900.[4] This Canadian light cavalry unit, in British Imperial service, was sent to South Africa during the Second Boer War, where Steele commanded them with distinction in the role of reconnaissance scouts. Steele, however, apparently disliked greatly[citation needed] 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 concentration camps. After the war, the regiment arrived in London in February 1901. Here they met Lord Strathcona for the first time and were presented with medals by King Edward VII during a visit to Buckingham Palace. Steele was also appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (fourth class) (MVO), a personal gift from the King.[5] 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.[6]

After taking the unit back to Canada early in 1901, Steele returned to South Africa that same year to command 'B' Division of the South African Constabulary, 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 District of Mackenzie, and then in 1910 assumed command of Division No. 10 at Winnipeg, where he spent his time regrouping Lord Strathcona's Horse and in preparing his memoirs.[citation needed]

Steele requested active military duty upon the outbreak of the First World War 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 2nd Canadian Division 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.[citation needed]

Matters were complicated, however, when Canadian Minister of Defence Sam Hughes 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 G. H. Perley, 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 Most Honourable Order of the Bath, and Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George.[citation needed]

Death and legacy

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Steele died during the 1918 flu pandemic just after his 71st birthday.[citation needed] He was interred at the Cathedral of St. John Cemetery in Winnipeg.[7]

Canada's fifth-tallest mountain, Mount Steele, is named after him.[citation needed]

CFB Edmonton, the home of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), is now called Steele Barracks after Major General Steele.[8]

Steele Narrows at Loon Lake was the site of the Battle of Loon Lake, the last battle in the North-West Rebellion. Steele's Alberta scouts fought there.

In 1979 Scarborough School Board, now Toronto District School Board named a grade school after him, Sir Samuel B Steele Junior Public School.[9]

Personal papers

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On 19 June 2008, Steele's wealth of personal papers and writings were repatriated to Canada in a ceremony in Trafalgar Square in London, England, headed by the Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. 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 University of Alberta.[10]

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.[11]

References

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Further reading

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Sam Steele

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Sir Samuel Benfield Steele (5 January 1848 – 30 January 1919) was a Canadian mounted policeman and soldier renowned for enforcing law and order in the western frontier and commanding cavalry in imperial conflicts. Born in Medonte Township, Upper Canada, to a family with naval traditions, Steele enlisted in the militia during the Fenian raids and joined the newly formed North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) in 1873 as one of its third members. Steele's NWMP career spanned three decades, during which he participated in the force's 1874 march to the Canadian West, suppressed illicit whiskey trading, aided in negotiating Treaties 6 and 7, and pursued and leaders following the of 1885. His most celebrated achievement came in 1898, when as superintendent he led detachments to the Yukon Territory amid the , implementing strict entry regulations at passes like Chilkoot and that curbed chaos and violence, thereby enhancing the NWMP's international reputation for effective policing. In 1900, Steele commanded Lord Strathcona's Horse, a Canadian contingent in the Second Boer War, leading it in reconnaissance and skirmishes across before organizing the South African Constabulary. Knighted for his service, he later rose to major-general in the Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War, training the in and but not deploying to the front lines. Steele died in in 1919, leaving a legacy as a symbol of Victorian-era Canadian frontier authority and military discipline.

Early Life

Birth and Family Background

Samuel Benfield Steele was born on 5 January 1848 in Purbrook, Medonte Township, , (present-day ). He was the eldest child of Captain Elmes Yelverton Steele, a retired officer in the Royal Navy who had immigrated to and served as a member of the provincial legislature, and Anne MacIan Macdonald, Elmes Steele's second wife. The Steele family maintained a strong military tradition, with Elmes having commanded ships during the before settling in . Steele's mother died around 1857, when he was approximately nine years old, leaving him and any younger full siblings under their father's care initially. Elmes Steele himself died in 1865, after which Steele resided for a time with his eldest half-brother, John Coucher Steele, from his father's first marriage. The family home at Purbrook reflected the modest circumstances of a naval veteran's post-service life in rural , though Elmes's legislative role provided some local prominence.

Childhood and Formative Experiences

Steele spent his childhood at the family homestead in Purbrook, Medonte Township, , (now ), where he received his initial education under family tutelage in a rural pioneer setting. His early years were marked by the influence of his father's naval service and legislative role, embedding a of amid the challenges of frontier life. In 1858, at age nine, Steele's mother, Anne MacIan Macdonald, died, leaving him orphaned from her side and prompting him to live with his older half-brother, John Steele, who assumed a guardian role. This loss contributed to his early independence, as he transitioned from home-based learning to formal schooling at a private academy in nearby , completing his basic education there by his mid-teens. These experiences in a sparsely settled region honed practical skills in horsemanship and outdoor survival, evident in his later affinity for mounted service, though no formal military training occurred during this period.

Pre-NWMP Military Service

Involvement in Fenian Raids

Steele enlisted in the Canadian militia at age 17 in 1866, prompted by the threat of launched by the from the . These incursions, including the on June 2, 1866, aimed to seize Canadian territory to pressure Britain for Irish independence, mobilizing Canadian volunteer forces for defense. He joined the 35th (Simcoe Foresters) of as an ensign, serving in defensive preparations amid the raids that targeted and borders. His unit contributed to the broader response, which helped repel the invaders without Steele's battalion engaging in direct combat, as the main Fenian force was defeated by regular troops and local volunteers. During this period, Steele also raised and trained a company for the 31st () of in Clarksburg, , demonstrating early leadership in frontier organization. This service marked Steele's initial exposure to military discipline and marked him for future commissions, though the Fenian threat subsided after 1866 with only minor border incidents until 1870, by which time Steele had shifted focus to the Red River Expedition.

Red River Expedition

In 1870, the Canadian government dispatched the Wolseley Expedition, comprising British regulars and under Colonel Garnet Wolseley, to assert federal authority over the Red River Settlement following the Métis-led provisional government established by in resistance to the anticipated transfer of from the to . Samuel Benfield Steele, aged 21 and having prior militia experience from the , volunteered as a private in the 1st () Battalion of Rifles, one of the expedition's volunteer units recruited from . The force totaled approximately 1,200 men, tasked with a grueling overland route from westward, involving extensive portages across rugged terrain and waterways amid harsh weather and supply shortages. Steele's physical prowess proved valuable during the expedition's demanding portages, where he reportedly hoisted heavy bateaux single-handedly, earning notice for feats of strength that aided the advance despite the logistical strains that delayed the column. The expedition reached on August 24, 1870, after Riel's forces had dispersed and the leader had fled to the , rendering combat unnecessary and leaving Steele, who anticipated action against the , deeply disappointed by the lack of engagement. established a to stabilize the region and facilitate Manitoba's entry into as a in July 1870, with provisions for land rights incorporated into the Manitoba Act. Steele returned to by autumn 1870, having gained firsthand exposure to the western frontier that fueled his subsequent pursuit of permanent military service, though the expedition's peaceful resolution underscored the tensions between federal expansion and local autonomy without resolving underlying grievances over land and governance. His participation, documented in expedition diaries and personal records preserved in collections like the Sir Sam Steele archive, highlighted the early mobilization of Canadian volunteers for in remote territories.

North-West Mounted Police Career

Enlistment and the March West

Steele enlisted in the (NWMP) in 1873 shortly after its formation by an act of the Canadian Parliament on May 23 of that year, securing appointment as a staff —a rank equivalent to divisional sergeant-major—and becoming the third man to join the force. His prior militia service in suppressing the and participating in the Red River Expedition equipped him with skills in horsemanship and leadership, which the NWMP urgently required for policing the vast, lawless prairies amid concerns over American whisky traders and Indigenous unrest following events like the of 1873. In preparation for the force's westward expansion, Steele assisted in training raw recruits and unruly horses at the NWMP's assembly point near Fort Dufferin, , leveraging his physical prowess—he stood six feet tall and weighed over 200 pounds—to instill discipline in the 300-man contingent. In June 1874, he took charge of logistical arrangements, including transport, for the second wave of recruits arriving at , ensuring their integration before the main advance. Steele then joined the March West, a 1,255-mile overland trek commencing on July 8, 1874, from Fort Dufferin toward the in present-day , divided into five troops under overall command of Assistant Commissioner James Macleod. The expedition endured extreme hardships, including summer heat, mosquito swarms, river crossings without bridges, and dwindling supplies that forced reliance on local bison herds, yet Steele's endurance on horseback and role in maintaining order helped the force reach the Rockies by late , establishing initial outposts like on October 25 to assert Canadian authority and curb illicit trade. This march solidified the NWMP's presence, preventing potential U.S. annexation pressures, with Steele's contributions earning him promotion to acting sergeant-major by expedition's end.

North-West Rebellion

When the erupted in March 1885, Steele was initially stationed in Rogers Pass but was soon recalled to , where he was appointed to command the mounted troops and scouts of Major-General Thomas Bland Strange's Alberta . In April 1885, he organized Steele's Scouts, a mounted unit comprising approximately 110 ranchers and cowboys supplemented by 25 (NWMP) officers, tasked with pursuing chief following the Frog Lake Massacre on 2 April 1885. Steele's Scouts advanced north to Edmonton and then proceeded down the North Saskatchewan River, maintaining relentless pursuit of Big Bear's band, which included Woods Cree and Plains Cree warriors retreating after the Battle of Frenchman Butte on 28 May 1885. On 3 June 1885, Steele's force of about 65 to 75 men overtook the Cree at Steele Narrows (also known as the Battle of Loon Lake), engaging in a three-hour skirmish against fewer than 50 exhausted warriors protecting families and hostages from Fort Pitt. The scouts overpowered the Cree, killing at least four, including Chief Seekaskootch, and forcing their retreat northward into the wilderness, with minimal casualties on the Canadian side; this marked the final armed engagement of the rebellion. The pursuit continued until Big Bear surrendered to Strange on 2 July 1885, after which Steele's effective leadership—despite logistical challenges like slow militia movements—enhanced his reputation as one of the few senior NWMP officers to emerge from the conflict with increased prestige. In August 1885, Steele received a promotion to superintendent in recognition of his Scouts' performance.

Routine Duties and Frontier Enforcement

Following the suppression of the in 1885, Steele resumed routine policing duties along the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) line in the , focusing on enforcement against saloons, gambling dens, and liquor trafficking, as the force expanded amid increased settlement. Appointed superintendent on August 1, 1885, he commanded D Division at , , from late 1885 to 1886, where he oversaw the training of new recruits through mounted and dismounted drills while conducting patrols to Indigenous reserves such as Fort Pitt, Onion Lake, and Duck Lake to maintain order. In September 1886, Steele led D Division on a 365-mile march from to , , managing logistics including water and firewood supplies during stops at Sounding Lake and , before establishing operations in . By early 1887, Steele transferred D Division to , , as the new southern headquarters, from which he directed patrols along the Milk River region, including sites like Kipp’s Coulee, Milk River Ridge, Writing-On-Stone, and Pendant d’Oreille, to enforce laws amid growing ranching and settler activity. That August, he commanded 75 NWMP members to , to resolve a dispute over the reserve boundaries, establishing a post with , stables for 75 horses, and a hospital; supplies were transported over 200 miles from Golden using police teams and pack trains. The issue was settled by August 1888 through mediation with Chief Isadore, after which Steele marched D Division 195 miles back to via Crow’s Nest Pass, assuming command of the post—the largest after Regina—where he administered justice as a stipendiary , handling cases of , liquor smuggling, and cattle killing. From December 1888 to January 1898, Steele's routine at involved commanding up to 200 men and 300 horses, enforcing within a 10-mile radius of railway tracks, supervising daily drills, parades, and marksmanship practice, and overseeing and supply transport to outposts. enforcement emphasized impartial liquor law application, despite local criticisms, and monitoring Indigenous behavior, which improved through for property recovery and offender punishment; Steele advocated severe penalties for Blood Indian raiders involved in , though some cases were dismissed on technicalities. By 1891, as commander of the district encompassing D, H, and K Divisions, major crime had declined, allowing focus on administrative improvements like equipment—a , 500 feet of , and a 3,750-gallon tank—at in 1893. These duties underscored Steele's role in stabilizing the through consistent patrols, judicial oversight, and deterrence against and , contributing to reduced unrest in ranching districts.

Yukon Command During Klondike Gold Rush

In January 1898, following gold discoveries in the in August 1896 that triggered a massive influx of prospectors, Samuel Steele was ordered from to the to reinforce (NWMP) presence and establish order amid fears of lawlessness similar to that in . He arrived in , on February 3, 1898, with initial responsibility for commanding approximately 250 NWMP members, initially focusing on "D" Division. From Skagway, Steele directed the setup of customs posts at the Chilkoot and White Passes, as well as Bennett Lake, to enforce , collect duties, and regulate entry into Canadian territory. On February 25, 1898, Steele raised the Canadian flag at and instituted stringent requirements, mandating that each prospector carry at least 1,000 pounds (about 454 kilograms) of food and equipment for a year's , alongside payment of duties and royalties. These rules, though not formally authorized by , effectively curbed smuggling, prevented starvation among ill-prepared stampeders, and turned back thousands lacking sufficient provisions, thereby reducing the risk of humanitarian crises. In June 1898, to address dangers on the , he restricted navigation through Miles Canyon and Rapids to licensed skilled pilots, required boat registration at Tagish Post, established a checkpoint at Canyon City, and imposed a $25 per vessel, seizing outfits of non-compliant parties. By July 1898, Steele had assumed overall command of all NWMP forces in the —numbering several detachments across the territory—and was appointed to the newly formed Yukon Territorial Council, reporting directly to rather than NWMP headquarters in Regina. In late summer 1898, he relocated headquarters to , where he took on additional roles as license commissioner and chair of the Klondike Board of Health. There, he enforced regulations limiting saloon hours, prohibiting and on Sundays, and assuming control of mining licenses and royalties to eliminate corruption among local claim recorders. To combat a typhoid outbreak, he mandated boiling water for beverages and oversaw measures, while minor offenders were sentenced to cut firewood and more suspect individuals were deported, fostering an environment of disciplined order comparable to urban . Steele's command extended jurisdiction over the and adjacent areas from 1898 to 1899, with nearly one-third of the entire NWMP force serving under him by mid-1899. Despite successfully averting widespread disorder—earning him promotion to brevet —tensions arose with officials over his direct oversight and anti-corruption efforts, culminating in his recall to Regina in September 1899. Thousands of miners farewelled him at Dawson's wharves, presenting a purse of nuggets from prominent claim holder McDonald in recognition of his role in preserving stability during the rush's peak.

Boer War Service

Formation and Command of Strathcona's Horse


On 10 January 1900, Donald Smith, Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, the Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, offered to raise and equip a mounted regiment at his own expense to support British forces in the Second Boer War. Superintendent Samuel Benfield Steele of the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP), renowned for his frontier command experience, was selected to organize and lead the unit as lieutenant-colonel. On 26 January 1900, Strathcona approved Steele's proposal to name the regiment Strathcona's Horse. Steele took leave from the NWMP to assume command, prioritizing recruitment of hardy western Canadians including ranchers, prospectors, and serving NWMP personnel to form three squadrons suited for mounted scouting and irregular warfare. Recruitment focused on the Canadian West, drawing from , the North-West Territories, and , yielding 28 officers and 512 other ranks, supported by 599 . Steele oversaw the rapid organization, completing the unit's formation by 25 1900, with emphasis on rigorous discipline and horsemanship drawn from his police background. The regiment embarked from Halifax on 16 March 1900 aboard the SS Monterey, arriving in on 10 April 1900, where an outbreak of equine disease delayed full deployment until June. Under Steele's command, Strathcona's Horse integrated NWMP veterans into its cadre, establishing a reputation for mobility and reliability that distinguished it among imperial contingents.

Campaigns and Military Engagements

Strathcona's Horse, under Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel Benfield Steele's command, landed at on 10 April 1900 with 28 officers, 512 men, and 599 horses, though approximately 200 horses were lost en route. Operations were delayed until June due to an outbreak of disease among the horses. In June, the regiment integrated into General Sir Redvers Buller's Natal , contributing to the clearance of Boer positions in northern Natal and the subsequent linkage of British columns in the Transvaal. The unit's initial skirmish occurred on 1 1900 near Waterval along the Natal-Pretoria railway, incurring about 15 casualties. Four days later, on 5 at Wolve Spruit, approximately 15 miles north of , a detachment of 38 troopers clashed with Boer forces at close range; Arthur H. L. Richardson received the —Canada's first—for gallantly rescuing a dismounted, wounded comrade under heavy fire, despite his own horse being injured. From June through October, Strathcona's Horse supported Buller's advance across challenging terrain to , the , and the district, excelling in scouting and mounted infantry roles. In November 1900, the regiment joined General Charles Knox's column in pursuing Boer leader south of , engaging in mobile operations against guerrilla tactics through December. On 10 November near Frederickstad, it acted as advance guard, capturing 600 cattle and 1,200 sheep from Boer forces. An earlier abortive plan involved sabotaging a railway bridge near , adjacent to the Portuguese East Africa border, to disrupt Boer supply lines from Delagoa Bay. Steele's preserved the unit's integrity against British proposals for dispersal, earning commendations from commanders like Buller and Kitchener for its effectiveness in and pursuit during the war's guerrilla phase. By October, the regiment entrained for after relinquishing horses, disbanding in December 1900 with return to in January 1901.

Return and Immediate Aftermath

Strathcona's Horse, commanded by Steele, completed its service in and embarked for in January 1901, arriving early that year. The regiment was disbanded upon return, with its members receiving honorary promotions; Steele was elevated to honorary lieutenant-colonel in the Canadian permanent force. During the voyage home, Steele was awarded the Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in for his . Upon arriving in , Steele briefly resided there, during which he received the Companion of the (CB) in recognition of his Boer War service. In May 1901, he was promoted to . Shortly thereafter, in June 1901, Steele accepted an offer from Robert Baden-Powell to command "B" Division of the newly formed , a paramilitary force tasked with pacifying Boer territories and aiding post-war transition; he returned to to reorganize the unit and oversee eight magisterial districts. This role extended his involvement in South African security beyond the formal end of hostilities in May 1902, focusing on enforcement and demobilization efforts.

World War I and Final Military Roles

Recruitment Efforts and Siberian Expedition Advocacy

Upon the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, Steele, then serving as inspector general of western Canadian military forces, was promoted to major-general in December 1914 and tasked with overseeing the training of troops for the Canadian Expeditionary Force's Second Contingent in the western provinces. His efforts focused on organizing and preparing raw recruits, drawing on his prior experience commanding Strathcona's Horse during the Boer War, where he had successfully raised and trained a mounted regiment from volunteers across Canada and the United States. This role positioned Steele as a key figure in building Canada's early war mobilization in the West, emphasizing discipline and frontier-honed skills to transform civilians into effective soldiers. In early 1915, Steele accepted command of the on 25 May, undertaking intensive recruitment and training at Canadian camps such as those near and , where he assembled battalions from western enlistees and instilled rigorous standards of fitness and marksmanship. He commanded the division until August 1915, when political pressures and age-related concerns—Steele was 67—led to his replacement by Major-General Richard Turner, despite Steele's proven track record in prior conflicts. These activities contributed to enlisting thousands, though exact figures attributable solely to Steele's direct oversight remain undocumented in primary records; his reputation as a stern disciplinarian aided voluntary sign-ups among prairie settlers and former Mounties. By November 1916, amid declining enlistment rates in , the Department of Militia and Defence ordered Steele, then in commanding Canadian training formations, to return home as Director of Recruiting to bolster domestic efforts through public appeals and organizational reforms. Steele refused the posting, citing his preference for active command abroad and dissatisfaction with bureaucratic constraints, a decision that prompted his relief from Canadian overseas commands on 1 December 1916 while allowing him to retain his rank under British authority. This stance reflected Steele's independent character but limited his direct involvement in 's later recruitment drives, which increasingly relied on by 1917.

Command of the 2nd Division

In early 1915, following the announcement of the formation of the as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Sir Samuel Steele was offered and accepted command, being promoted to major general for the role. He assumed command on 25 May 1915, overseeing the division's initial organization in , which involved recruiting, assembling units from western military districts, and preparing them for overseas deployment. Steele accompanied the division to England, where he directed its training at camps such as those near Shorncliffe, emphasizing discipline, physical conditioning, and tactical preparation for , drawing on his extensive experience from frontier policing and the Boer War. Under his leadership, the division underwent intensive drills and maneuvers to integrate battalions, , and support elements into a cohesive fighting force, with Steele personally inspecting units and enforcing standards amid the rapid expansion of Canadian forces. However, British War Office concerns, led by Lord Kitchener, over Steele's age—he was 67 but had claimed to be 62—resulted in a of his permanent command, prompting a compromise where he retained oversight only until the division was deemed ready for the Western Front. He was replaced on 5 August 1915 by Major-General Richard Ernest William Turner, after which the 2nd Division proceeded to France for combat under new leadership. Despite the brevity of his tenure, Steele's efforts laid foundational training protocols that contributed to the division's early effectiveness in battles such as those at Mount Sorrel in 1916.

Conflicts with Superiors and Resignation

Steele assumed command of the on 25 May 1915, overseeing its training in before accompanying it to later that year. However, in August 1915, he was replaced by Major-General Richard Ernest William Turner, primarily due to concerns raised by British Lord Kitchener regarding Steele's age of 67, which was deemed a barrier to effective field command. This decision reflected broader skepticism among British military authorities about Steele's suitability for active frontline leadership, despite his extensive prior experience, and marked an early point of friction with higher command structures prioritizing youth and perceived vigor over Steele's proven organizational skills. Following his relief from the 2nd Division, Steele was appointed on 3 August 1915 to command the , encompassing the for Canadian reinforcements, while also retaining oversight of Canadian troops in the —a assigned by Canadian Minister of Militia and Defence Samuel Hughes. This arrangement led to immediate conflicts with Brigadier-General John Wallace Carson and Brigadier-General James Charles MacDougall, who contested Steele's authority over Canadian units, creating jurisdictional disputes that persisted until Hughes's dismissal in November 1916. Steele's insistence on centralized control, rooted in his frontier policing background, clashed with the decentralized preferences of these subordinates, exacerbating tensions within the Canadian overseas command amid rapid wartime expansion. Further discord arose in late 1916 when Sir George Halsey Perley, acting on directives from , offered Steele a recruiting position in , which Steele refused, viewing it as a unfit for his rank and expertise. On 1 December 1916, Perley relieved Steele of his Canadian command responsibilities, limiting him to the Shorncliffe district role, which effectively sidelined him from broader strategic influence. These episodes highlighted Steele's recurring difficulties adapting to the hierarchical and politically influenced dynamics of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, where his independent streak and age were leveraged by superiors to justify reassignments. Steele retained command of the Southeastern District until 1 March 1918, after which he transitioned to administrative duties amid ongoing health concerns and the war's evolving demands. He formally retired from the Canadian Army on 15 July 1918, citing exhaustion and a desire to return to civilian life, though underlying frictions with superiors had long diminished his operational scope. This concluded a military career marked by frontline successes but hindered in its final phase by institutional resistance to his and physical age.

Personal Life

Marriage and Family

Steele married Marie Elizabeth de Lotbinière Harwood, daughter of Quebec Robert William Harwood, on 15 January 1890 in Vaudreuil, . The couple met the previous year when Harwood visited her aunt, the wife of superintendent Alexander R. Macdonell, at , . Steele obtained several months' leave from his duties to travel east for the wedding. The marriage produced three children: Mary Charlotte Flora Macdonald Steele, born in 1891; Gertrude Alexandra Elizabeth Steele, born in 1895; and Harwood Elmes Robert Steele, born in 1897. The family accompanied Steele during his postings in and later resided with him in following his military service abroad. Harwood Steele pursued a career in art and authorship, including works inspired by his father's experiences.

Character Traits and Private Correspondence

Steele was characterized by contemporaries and biographers as possessing immense and , traits that enabled him to thrive in demanding conditions. He demonstrated , , and relentless throughout his career, often prioritizing duty over personal comfort. Despite a limited sense of humor, Steele supported women's independence and , advocating for female enfranchisement well ahead of its widespread adoption in . His devotion to family was evident in private writings, where he expressed deep affection and concern for relatives amid professional separations. Private correspondence reveals a more introspective and familial side to Steele, contrasting his public image as a stern law enforcer. Between October 1888 and June 1889, he exchanged engagement letters with Marie Elizabeth Harwood, his future wife, filled with expressions of romantic affection and personal vulnerability during his service. Over their 29-year marriage, the couple wrote hundreds of affectionate letters, some exceeding 40 pages, blending intimate sentiments with accounts of historical events like the 1899 Dawson fire. These documents, preserved in the Steele Family fonds at the , highlight his romantic dedication—he proposed in 1889 despite career demands—and strategic awareness in leveraging family connections. Additional letters to family acquaintances, such as those to Thomas Blaney from 1913 to 1918, underscore Steele's preoccupation with ancestral legacy and welfare. In October 1913, he requested a tombstone for his brother John and a church memorial, reflecting . Correspondence in 1917 detailed efforts to locate his great-grandmother's grave and purchase the childhood at Fairvalley, evoking for its features like trout streams and orchards. During , letters from June 1917 and February 1918 expressed frustration at commanding British rather than Canadian troops and anxiety over his Harry's frontline safety, revealing paternal protectiveness and loyalty tempered by disappointment. These writings, drawn from thousands of personal papers analyzed in Rod Macleod's , portray Steele as a man balancing stoic public resolve with private emotional depth.

Writings and Archival Legacy

Memoir: Forty Years in Canada

Forty Years in Canada: Reminiscences of the Great North-West with Some Account of His Service in was Samuel Benfield Steele's autobiographical , first conceived in 1906 and published in February 1915 by Herbert Jenkins in the , with licensed editions by Dodd, Mead and Company in the United States and McClelland, Goodchild and Stewart in . The 428-page volume, including a by J.G. Colmer, underwent significant delays due to Steele's military commitments during , multiple publisher changes, and extensive editing by his agent Mollie Glenn Niblett, who shortened the manuscript without Steele's full approval, leaving him dissatisfied with the final product. No second edition was produced amid disputes over the editing and licensing. Steele intended the work to memorialize his career, counter public mythologizing by presenting a controlled narrative of his heroism, and document the "civilizing" of Canada's North-West through the (NWMP) while upholding British imperial order. The devotes minimal space to his first 22 years—less than five pages—before detailing his NWMP service from 1874 onward, including enforcement along the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Yukon Gold Rush, and interactions with and settlers. Later sections cover his command of Lord Strathcona's Horse during the Second Boer War (1899–1902) and subsequent role in the South African Constabulary, positioning Steele as central to pivotal events in Canadian expansion and imperial defense. As a , the provides firsthand insights into the formative years of the NWMP and western Canadian development, offering one of the more comprehensive soldier's accounts from the era. However, its historical accuracy has been questioned, with evidence indicating Steele incorporated colleagues' experiences as his own, blending fact and fiction to enhance his narrative—for instance, attributing a buffalo stampede account derived from a subordinate's letter to his personal observation. This self-aggrandizing approach, while revealing Steele's self-perception as an imperial enforcer, underscores the memoir's limitations as an unvarnished record, particularly given its selective emphasis on triumphs over routine duties or failures. Contemporary reception noted the volume's vivid anecdotes from the West and , though critics and readers alike found Steele's prose style dry and overly earnest. Its enduring value lies in shaping the mythic image of the Mountie and preserving Steele's perspective on law enforcement's role in territorial expansion, despite editorial interventions and factual liberties that reflect the autobiographical genre's inherent biases toward protagonism.

Personal Papers and Their Historical Value

The personal papers of Sir Samuel Steele, comprising diaries, letters, correspondence, and related documents spanning from 1870 to his death in 1919, form a core component of the Sir Samuel Benfield Steele Family Archive held at the Bruce Peel Special Collections Library of the . These materials include over a thousand pages of Steele's handwritten diaries beginning in 1885, drafts of his memoir Forty Years in Canada, and extensive family correspondence involving his wife Marie and children, providing insights into his daily operations, strategic decisions, and personal reflections during key periods of his career. The collection was acquired by the government in 2008 for CAD $1.8 million from private ownership in , repatriating artifacts that had been dispersed after Steele's death. Steele's diaries and letters document firsthand his experiences in the , including patrols in the early western expansion, enforcement during the of 1885, and administration in the during the of 1898–1900, where he imposed order amid rapid influxes of miners and prospectors. Later entries cover his command roles in the Second Boer War (1899–1902) and , including recruitment efforts and the Siberian Expedition, revealing unfiltered observations on military logistics, interpersonal conflicts with superiors, and the challenges of commanding Canadian forces abroad. Unlike published accounts, these papers disclose private frustrations and strategic rationales, such as Steele's advocacy for Canadian autonomy in expeditionary forces, which were often omitted or sanitized in official reports. The historical value of these papers lies in their role as unvarnished primary evidence for reconstructing Steele's contributions to Canadian law enforcement and imperial military history, enabling historians to cross-verify secondary narratives against Steele's own contemporaneous records. Prior to their public accessibility post-2008, reliance on fragmented or family-held excerpts limited scholarly depth; subsequent analyses, such as in Rod Macleod's 2019 biography, utilize the full archive to reassess Steele's character—portraying him as a pragmatic disciplinarian rather than a mythic hero—and to illuminate broader themes like the NWMP's foundational impact on prairie governance and Canada's early 20th-century military identity. The papers' preservation of Steele's "innermost thoughts" counters potential biases in institutional records, offering causal insights into decisions shaped by terrain, manpower shortages, and imperial politics, thus serving as a benchmark for truth-seeking evaluations of frontier policing and expeditionary command.

Death

Illness and Final Months

Steele's health deteriorated significantly during the First World War, with symptoms including substantial weight loss beginning in early 1917; by mid-1918, he had shed more than 40 pounds, signaling a serious decline exacerbated by . He remained in England after being relieved of his command of the in October 1918, where retirement proved difficult amid his failing condition. In the final weeks of his life, Steele succumbed to the 1918 , then raging across Europe. He died quietly in his sleep during the early hours of January 30, 1919, at his home in , , just 25 days after his 71st birthday. Complications from the flu, likely interacting with his underlying and frailty, proved fatal, marking him as one of the pandemic's numerous victims.

Funeral and Burial

Steele died on 30 January 1919 in , , at the age of 70, most likely from complications of . In accordance with his final instructions, his body was repatriated to for burial in rather than immediate interment in . The burial occurred on 3 July 1919 at St. John's Cathedral Cemetery in , , the oldest Anglican parish cemetery west of the . A group of Steele's friends commissioned a shortly after his passing, intending it for use in creating a in his honor. His gravestone enumerates his major accomplishments, including service with the and command of Strathcona's Horse.

Legacy and Assessments

Key Achievements in Law Enforcement and Expansion

Steele enlisted in the (NWMP) on October 1, 1873, as one of its inaugural sergeant-majors, contributing to the force's formative efforts to assert federal authority across the newly acquired western territories. In 1874, he participated in the March West, a 1,100-mile expedition from to the foothills that established NWMP posts and enforced Canadian law amid Indigenous resistance and American whiskey traders, thereby facilitating territorial expansion and settlement. During the of 1885, Steele raised and commanded a of 75 scouts from NWMP reinforcements, aiding in the suppression of and uprisings at battles such as Frenchman’s Butte on May 28, where his unit provided critical reconnaissance and pursuit. Promoted to superintendent in 1885, Steele led the Kootenay Expedition in , founding Fort Steele in present-day British Columbia's East on July 22 to regulate claims, curb , and maintain order among 2,000 prospectors in the region's silver and booms, extending NWMP into mountainous areas vulnerable to U.S. influence. This outpost served as a base for patrols that enforced game laws, resolved disputes, and protected settlers, supporting Canada's resource-based expansion into the interior. In response to the , Steele arrived in , on February 4, 1898, to command NWMP "D" Division, initially numbering around 50 men, tasked with policing the Chilkoot and White Passes connecting Alaskan ports to Canadian fields. He implemented stringent entry requirements on February 20, mandating each prospector carry one ton (approximately 1,000 pounds) of supplies for a year's subsistence to avert famine among the estimated 30,000 crossing in 1898, while collecting customs duties to fund operations and assert sovereignty. Under his oversight, detachments expanded to 250 personnel across 12 posts, including , where they quelled vice, adjudicated claims, and minimized violence—recording fewer than 20 murders in a population swelling to 40,000 by 1900—transforming the rush into one of history's most regulated frontiers. By June 1898, Steele's command extended over the entire , bolstering federal control against American mining interests and enabling orderly infrastructure development, such as telegraph lines and trails.

Honors and Commemorations

Steele was appointed Companion of the (CB) in 1900 for his service in the Second Boer War, received the Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1916, and was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in 1901. These honors recognized his leadership in raising and commanding Lord Strathcona's Horse regiment and his subsequent contributions to imperial defense. Posthumously, several memorials commemorate Steele's legacy in law enforcement and military service. The Sir Samuel Benfield Steele Memorial, a five-foot granite stone in Orillia, Ontario, erected in 1920, features badges of the Grey and Simcoe Foresters, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Lord Strathcona's Horse, honoring his roles across these units. The Sir Sam Steele Memorial Building in Orillia, originally constructed as a customs house and post office between 1892 and 1894, now serves as a dedicated site preserving artifacts from his career, including those related to the local police service. In Sherwood Park, Alberta, a two-meter wooden statue of Steele, carved from a tree stump and dedicated in September 2013, stood along Broadmoor Boulevard until its destruction by arson on March 21, 2025. Annual commemorations include Sir Sam Steele Day, proclaimed in , , on June 23 since at least 2019, featuring church services, parades, and receptions to mark his birth in 1849 and contributions to Canadian expansion. The General Sir Sam Steele Branch 117 of the Royal Canadian Legion in maintains a First World War veterans' monument, reflecting his influence on military remembrance. Additionally, the Sam Steele Medal is awarded within Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) to recognize exemplary service, perpetuating his equestrian and legacy.

Criticisms, Controversies, and Modern Re-evaluations

Steele's role in the during the 1885 has drawn modern scrutiny for contributing to the suppression of and Indigenous resistance against federal land policies and treaty implementation failures. As superintendent, he formed Steele's Scouts, a volunteer unit of NWMP officers and civilians that pursued leader Big Bear's forces after the Frog Lake Massacre on April 2, 1885, aiding in the capture of warriors and recovery of prisoners. While contemporaries praised the unit's effectiveness in restoring order, post-colonial analyses frame this as enforcement of colonial expansion that prioritized settler interests over Indigenous sovereignty, including support for banning the Sun Dance ceremony—a sacred Plains practice—and facilitation of residential school placements for Indigenous children. In the Yukon Territory during the , Steele's tenure as NWMP commissioner from 1898 to 1899 involved imposing stringent regulations on miners and traders to curb lawlessness, but led to conflicts with federal officials over jurisdictional authority and alleged administrative corruption. He publicly criticized Ottawa's appointees, prompting his abrupt removal on September 4, 1899, by Minister amid accusations of overreach. Rumors of personal and an unspecified during his Boer War service in also circulated, though family members and biographers have contested their veracity as unsubstantiated gossip from rivals. Steele's 1914 memoir, Forty Years in Canada, faced controversy over editorial liberties taken by his collaborator, Mary Isabel Eames, who altered content for dramatic effect, leading to a public and Steele's disavowal of the final published version in 1915. The book exaggerated his direct involvement in events like the , prompting contemporary reviewers to question its historical accuracy as a blend of and embellishment. During , as major-general commanding the Canadian 2nd Division from 1916, Steele encountered organizational inefficiencies and supply shortages in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, exacerbated by distant command from ; biographers note his leadership was less effective than his frontier exploits, contributing to his relief from duties in 1918 due to health issues and internal critiques, though he received a knighthood shortly before his death. Modern re-evaluations portray Steele as a "faded " whose Victorian-era , imperial loyalty, and paternalistic views toward clash with contemporary Canadian values emphasizing and . Once emblematic of orderly Canadian expansion, his legacy is now critiqued for embodying colonial enforcement mechanisms that displaced native populations to enable settlement, with limited public commemorations reflecting a shift away from celebrating such figures amid broader scrutiny of imperial history. Historians like Rod Macleod acknowledge his personal bravery and administrative acumen but highlight how NWMP actions under officers like Steele facilitated systemic dispossession, urging contextualization beyond hagiographic narratives.

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