Lieutenant-Colonel James Farquharson Macleod (c. September 25, 1836 – September 5, 1894), born in Drynoch, Isle of Skye, Scotland, was a militia officer, lawyer, NWMP officer, magistrate, judge, and politician in Alberta. He served as the second Commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police, from July 22, 1876, to October 31, 1880. Fort Macleod and Macleod Trail, a major Calgary, Alberta, thoroughfare, are named after him.
In 1887, Macleod was appointed to the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories, which then included what is now known as Alberta and Saskatchewan. He held this position until his death in 1894. He is buried in Union Cemetery in Calgary.
Contents |
Macleod emigrated with his family from Scotland in 1845 when his father purchased a farm at Richmond Hill, Ontario. Macleod attended Upper Canada College in Toronto, Ontario and then Queen’s College in Kingston, Ontario. He graduated in 1854 from Queen's with a B.A. in classics and philosophy and then enrolled in 1856 at Osgoode Hall to attend law school. He graduated with an LL.B. in 1860 and articled with the law office of Alexander Campbell. It was also sometime around this time that he joined the Orange Order, L.O.L. 141, as was common of Canadian Ulster-Scots at the time.
Before law school during the summer of 1856, against the wishes of his parents, Macleod joined the Volunteer Militia Field Battery of Kingston as a lieutenant and his enthusiasm was such that his brother-in-law William Augustus Baldwin persuaded Governor General Sir Edmund Walker Head to offer Macleod a commission in the British army. His father insisted that the offer be refused.
From 1860 to 1870 Macleod practiced law in Bowmanville, Ontario.
James was appointed the Legislative Assembly of Northwest Territories on October 7, 1876, to serve as one of the first three members on the permanent Northwest Territories Council.
He served as a regular appointed member until 1881 he was appointed as a Stipendiary Magistrate. He served as such until the 1st Northwest Territories general election.
He was reappointed to the Assembly as one of three Legal Advisors. A non-voting at large position created to help the assembly make the transition. The position was abolished when the legislature was dissolved in 1891 ,ending a 15 years of service with the legislature.
| Police appointments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George Arthur French |
Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police 1876-1880 |
Succeeded by Acheson Irvine |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by New Position |
MLA Appointed Member 1876-1881 |
Succeeded by Acheson Irvine |
| Preceded by New Position |
MLA Stipendiary Magistrate 1881-1888 |
Succeeded by Position Abolished |
| Preceded by New Position |
MLA Legal Advisor 1888-1891 |
Succeeded by Position Abolished |