Éphrem-A. Brisebois
Encyclopedia
Inspector Éphrem-A. Brisebois (7 March 1850 – 13 February 1890) was a politician
, soldier, and police officer
with the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) of Canada
. He was born 7 March 1850 at South Durham, Canada East
, now Durham-Sud, Quebec.
in the American Civil War
and went on to spend a further three years serving in Italy
with the volunteer unit "Devils of the Good Lord".
, because of his military experience (and Conservative
politics), to be one of nine commanding officers with the new NWMP. He distinguished himself as a trainer, and showed remarkable foresight by attempting to enforce strict restrictions on buffalo
hunting (over-hunting, among other reasons, led to a massive decline in the buffalo population). However, he was criticized for an inability to maintain discipline among his men, and his decision to take a common-law Métis
wife. As his division's insubordination reached near-mutiny proportions, he clashed more and more with his direct superior James Farquharson Macleod. On Macleod's suggestion, Fort Brisebois was renamed to Fort Calgary (now Calgary, Alberta) in June 1876, and Brisebois resigned in August.
, and helped a Conservative candidate, Désiré-Olivier Bourbeau defeat a Liberal
cabinet minister named Wilfrid Laurier
(the future Prime Minister
). In 1880, he was made the registrar of land titles, and assigned to Minnedosa, Manitoba
. He and his wife Adelle (whom he had legally married sometime after resigning from the NWMP) led an active social life, founding a showshoe club and holding Roman Catholic church services in their home. During the Northwest Rebellion of 1885, he helped mobilize militia units.
in 1890, and was buried in St. Boniface, Manitoba.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, soldier, and police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
with the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) of Canada
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...
. He was born 7 March 1850 at South Durham, Canada East
Canada East
Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region....
, now Durham-Sud, Quebec.
Early career
Brisebois showed himself to be an excellent student and was fluently bilingual in English and French. At 15 he dropped out of school to fight for the Union ArmyUnion Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and went on to spend a further three years serving in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
with the volunteer unit "Devils of the Good Lord".
Life as an officer
In 1873, he was chosen by Sir John A. MacdonaldJohn 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...
, because of his military experience (and Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada (historical)
The Conservative Party of Canada has gone by a variety of names over the years since Canadian Confederation. Initially known as the "Liberal-Conservative Party", it dropped "Liberal" from its name in 1873, although many of its candidates continued to use this name.As a result of World War I and the...
politics), to be one of nine commanding officers with the new NWMP. He distinguished himself as a trainer, and showed remarkable foresight by attempting to enforce strict restrictions on buffalo
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
hunting (over-hunting, among other reasons, led to a massive decline in the buffalo population). However, he was criticized for an inability to maintain discipline among his men, and his decision to take a common-law Métis
Métis people (Canada)
The Métis are one of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada who trace their descent to mixed First Nations parentage. The term was historically a catch-all describing the offspring of any such union, but within generations the culture syncretised into what is today a distinct aboriginal group, with...
wife. As his division's insubordination reached near-mutiny proportions, he clashed more and more with his direct superior James Farquharson Macleod. On Macleod's suggestion, Fort Brisebois was renamed to Fort Calgary (now Calgary, Alberta) in June 1876, and Brisebois resigned in August.
Political life
Brisebois then rode, alone, 1200 kilometres to Winnipeg. Eventually, he returned to QuebecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, and helped a Conservative candidate, Désiré-Olivier Bourbeau defeat a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
cabinet minister named Wilfrid Laurier
Wilfrid Laurier
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....
(the future Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
). In 1880, he was made the registrar of land titles, and assigned to Minnedosa, Manitoba
Minnedosa, Manitoba
Minnedosa is a town in the southwestern part of the Canadian province of Manitoba. Situated 50 kilometres north of Brandon, Manitoba on the Little Saskatchewan River, the name means "flowing water" in Sioux. The population of Minnedosa reported in the 2006 Statistics Canada Census was 2,474...
. He and his wife Adelle (whom he had legally married sometime after resigning from the NWMP) led an active social life, founding a showshoe club and holding Roman Catholic church services in their home. During the Northwest Rebellion of 1885, he helped mobilize militia units.
Death
He died of a heart attack in WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
in 1890, and was buried in St. Boniface, Manitoba.