Lawrence Herchmer
Encyclopedia
Lawrence William Herchmer (25 April 1840 – 17 February 1915) was a Canadian
and British
police commander and army officer, who was also employed as a farmer, brewer and civil servant.
He served as the fifth Commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police
, from April 1, 1886 to July 31, 1900.
Born in Shipton-on-Cherwell
, England
, Herchmer served with the British Army
and, during 1872-4, as supply officer of the British Boundary Commission, then as Indian agent
in Manitoba
in 1876. He was named RCMP Commissioner in 1886.
Although a former military officer, he had not served in the police, and was a civilian at the time he was named as Commissioner of the force.
Herchmer was "a capable administrator", but being hot-tempered and overbearing, he gained a “reputation as a tyrant” during his tenure as commissioner. Nevertheless, the force under his command gained better benefits, living conditions, organization, and training, and more respect, with a marked improvement in esprit du corps. His personality earned him a number of political enemies, leading to charges of mismanagement that produced a judicial inquiry
in 1892 (which cleared him) and culminated in his dismissal in 1900, while he was serving with the Canadian Army
in South Africa
. Herchmer considered his firing unjust, and continued to say so until his death.
Herchmer introduced the wide-brimmed hats (later adopted as official uniform), and the famous musical ride display of horsemanship.
His family had connections with John A. Macdonald
, first prime minister of Canada, who appointed him.
He had the political backing to make many important changes to the administration and organization of the force.
He died in Vancouver
, British Columbia
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
police commander and army officer, who was also employed as a farmer, brewer and civil servant.
He served as the fifth Commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police
Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Commissioner is the highest rank of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police , and of its predecessor agencies, the North-West Mounted Police and the Royal Northwest Mounted Police . The Commissioner reports directly to the Minister of Public Safety.The Commissioner of RCMP is the Principal Commander of...
, from April 1, 1886 to July 31, 1900.
Born in Shipton-on-Cherwell
Shipton-on-Cherwell
Shipton-on-Cherwell is a village on the River Cherwell north of Kidlington in Oxfordshire, England. The village is part of the civil parish of Shipton-on-Cherwell and Thrupp.-Manor:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Herchmer served with the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and, during 1872-4, as supply officer of the British Boundary Commission, then as Indian agent
Indian agent
In United States history, an Indian agent was an individual authorized to interact with Native American tribes on behalf of the U.S. government.-Indian agents:*Leander Clark was agent for the Sac and Fox in Iowa beginning in 1866....
in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
in 1876. He was named RCMP Commissioner in 1886.
Although a former military officer, he had not served in the police, and was a civilian at the time he was named as Commissioner of the force.
Herchmer was "a capable administrator", but being hot-tempered and overbearing, he gained a “reputation as a tyrant” during his tenure as commissioner. Nevertheless, the force under his command gained better benefits, living conditions, organization, and training, and more respect, with a marked improvement in esprit du corps. His personality earned him a number of political enemies, leading to charges of mismanagement that produced a judicial inquiry
Public inquiry
A Tribunal of Inquiry is an official review of events or actions ordered by a government body in Common Law countries such as the United Kingdom, Ireland or Canada. Such a public inquiry differs from a Royal Commission in that a public inquiry accepts evidence and conducts its hearings in a more...
in 1892 (which cleared him) and culminated in his dismissal in 1900, while he was serving with the Canadian Army
Canadian Forces Land Force Command
The Canadian Army , previously called Land Force Command, is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The current size of the Army is 19,500 regular soldiers and 16,000 reserve soldiers, for a total of around 35,500 soldiers...
in South Africa
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. Herchmer considered his firing unjust, and continued to say so until his death.
Herchmer introduced the wide-brimmed hats (later adopted as official uniform), and the famous musical ride display of horsemanship.
His family had connections with John A. Macdonald
John A. Macdonald
Sir John Alexander Macdonald, GCB, KCMG, PC, PC , QC was the first Prime Minister of Canada. The dominant figure of Canadian Confederation, his political career spanned almost half a century...
, first prime minister of Canada, who appointed him.
He had the political backing to make many important changes to the administration and organization of the force.
He died in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
Sources
- Horrall, S. W. "Herchmer, Lawrence William", in The Canadian Encyclopedia, Volume , p.981. Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers, 1988.