Brockville in Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Major James M. Walsh

North West Mounted Police

— Brockville Historic Area: Notable Brockvillian —

Major James M. Walsh Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 21, 2019

1. Major James M. Walsh Marker

Inscription.

, Major James Morrow Walsh was a colourful figure who played an important role in opening the Canadian West. Born on May 22, 1840 in Prescott, Ontario, he became one of the first nine officers of the North West Mounted Police (NWMP). This police force was formed in 1873 by Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald to guard the Canadian West., In 1874, Walsh rode with the original 300 recruits on the 'Great March West', from Manitoba to Alberta, to bring law and order to the west ahead of large-scale settlement. He established Fort Walsh in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan in 1875., After the defeat of Lt.-Col. George Custer's 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Big Horn on June 25, 1876, Chief Sitting Bull led 5000 of his people to safety across the 'Medicine Line' (the U.S.-Canada border) in May 1877. As the officer in charge Walsh, along with six of him men, rode boldly into the Sioux camp to meet the chief. They later became friends and Sitting Bull gave Walsh his war bonnet, which is now housed in the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto., Walsh left the NWMP in 1883 and went into the coal business, supplying the new Canadian Pacific Railway. He and his wife, Mary, also purchased a large house at 207 King Street East in Brockville., Upon his retirement in 1894, Walsh became a founding member and the first President of the Brockville Rowing Club and donated the 'Walsh Cup' for war canoe races., During the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897-98, he was appointed Commissioner of the NWMP in the Yukon by Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier., Walsh died at his home in Brockville on July 25, 1905 at age 65. He was given a large military funeral, with burial at the Brockville Cemetery, west of Brockville., In Western Canada, two sites were named in his honour: Fort Walsh in Saskatchewan, a National Historic Site, and Mount Walsh in Kluane National Park, in the Yukon., [Illustration captions, left to right, read] , . Painting by Herbert Sheridan, . James M. Walsh, Businessman ca.1890, . NWMP Officer James Walsh ca.1875 on a trip to Chicago

Major James Morrow Walsh was a colourful figure who played an important role in opening the Canadian West. Born on May 22, 1840 in Prescott, Ontario, he became one of the first nine officers of the North West Mounted Police (NWMP). This police force was formed in 1873 by Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald to guard the Canadian West.

In 1874, Walsh rode with the original 300 recruits on the 'Great March West', from Manitoba to Alberta, to bring law and order to the west ahead of large-scale settlement. He established Fort Walsh in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan in 1875.

After the defeat of Lt.-Col. George Custer's 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Big Horn on June 25, 1876, Chief Sitting Bull led 5000 of his people to safety across the 'Medicine Line' (the U.S.-Canada border) in May 1877. As the officer in charge Walsh, along with six of him men, rode boldly into the Sioux camp to meet the chief. They later became friends and Sitting Bull gave Walsh his war bonnet, which is now housed in the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.

Walsh left the NWMP in 1883 and

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went into the coal business, supplying the new Canadian Pacific Railway. He and his wife, Mary, also purchased a large house at 207 King Street East in Brockville.

Upon his retirement in 1894, Walsh became a founding member and the first President of the Brockville Rowing Club and donated the 'Walsh Cup' for war canoe races.

During the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897-98, he was appointed Commissioner of the NWMP in the Yukon by Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier.

Walsh died at his home in Brockville on July 25, 1905 at age 65. He was given a large military funeral, with burial at the Brockville Cemetery, west of Brockville.

In Western Canada, two sites were named in his honour: Fort Walsh in Saskatchewan, a National Historic Site, and Mount Walsh in Kluane National Park, in the Yukon.

[Illustration captions, left to right, read]
• Painting by Herbert Sheridan

• James M. Walsh, Businessman ca.1890

• NWMP Officer James Walsh ca.1875 on a trip to Chicago

Erected 2014 by City of Brockville, Heritage Brockville, and Inspector Robert M.S. Kraus, RCMP, and family.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Law Enforcement • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is May 22, 1840.

Location.

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., October 21, 2019

2. Major James M. Walsh Marker

Brockville Rowing Club in background and a fog-shrouded St. Lawrence River beyond.

44° 35.398′ N, 75° 40.878′ W. Marker is in Brockville, Ontario, in Leeds and Grenville United Counties. Marker is at the intersection of Water Street and Ferry Street, on the right when traveling east on Water Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Ferry Street, Brockville ON K6V 1A1, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Great War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); The Brockville "Van" or Caboose (within shouting distance of this marker); Brockville Rowing Club (within shouting distance of this marker); Brockville Ferry Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); The Brockville Tunnel 1860 (within shouting distance of this marker); Brockville Farmers' Market (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Aerial View of Water Street East and the surrounding area (about 90 meters away); A view of Brockville from the waterfront CPR Docks (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brockville.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Brockville Heritage Plaque Tour. (Submitted on October 26, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. A Brief History of Brockville. (Submitted on October 26, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. James Morrow Walsh at Dictionary of Canadian Biography

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. (Submitted on October 26, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 18, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 364 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 26, 2019, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.