Aylesworth Perry

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Aylesworth Bowen Perry, C.M.G. (August 21, 1860 – February 14, 1956) served as the sixth Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, from August 1, 1900 to March 31, 1923.

He was born at Violet, near Napanee, Ontario, on August 21, 1860. He was educated at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. From 1881-1882, he worked with the Geological Survey of Canada. He was appointed an Inspector in the North-West Mounted Police in January 1882. A contingent under his command travelled to London, England for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. He was placed in command of the police in the Yukon in 1899. He was appointed Commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police from August 1, 1890 until his retirement on April 1, 1923. He served nearly 23 years in office, and was the longest-serving commissioner of the RCMP. As commissioner, he organized a secret service for intelligence gathering, instituted annual training classes, increased pay rates, revised regulations related to marriage, formed two squadrons to fight in the First World War and approved changes to the uniform, with perhaps the formal adoption of the Stetson hat being the most noted. King Edward VII added the title "Royal" to the North West Mounted Police in 1904 when he was in command. He was a principal advisors to the government during the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919. He reorganized the Force in 1920 after it absorbed the Dominion Police, extended police services throughout Canada and moved headquarters from Regina, Saskatchewan to Ottawa, Ontario. The Force emerged as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He died in Ottawa, Ontario on February 14, 1956.

[edit] Honours

In 1909, he was awarded the Order of St. Michael and St. George. In 1920 he was given the title "Honorary Aide-de-camp to His Excellency The Governor General". Upon his retirement, he was awarded the rank of Major-General by the Canadian Militia.