Person Record

Metadata

Name

Crozier, Lief Newry Fitzray

Born

June 11, 1846

Birthplace

Ireland

Deceased

1901

Deceased

Oklahoma, U.S.A.

Education

Graduated from Royal Military College, Kingston, in 1863.

Occupation

Leif served in the Argyll Light Infantry (15th Battalion Canadian Militia) rising to the rank of Major, and distinguished himself as a competent officer during the Fenian raids of 1866-1871. Crozier left the military and joined the newly formed North West Mounted Police in 1873. He was officially attested in as a Sub-Inspector on November 3rd of that year. The following summer Crozier accompanied the force on their famous trek across the prairies to establish Canadian law amongst the settlers and Native tribes. After being promoted to the rank of Inspector on September 11, 1874, Crozier spent his first winter at Ft. Macleod, near present day Lethbridge, Alberta. Over the next six years he spent time at many of the original NWMP posts including Ft. Calgary, Ft. Edmonton, Ft. Carlton, Ft. Walsh, Ft. Ellice and Swan River.

After a general shuffling of officers in 1880, Crozier found himself moved from his station at Fort Walsh to the NWMP post at Wood Mountain. While posted at Wood Mountain, Crozier was given the unenviable task of dealing with Sitting Bull, the notorious warrior chief of the Sioux Indians. The Sioux people had arrived in Canada three years earlier seeking refuge from vicious American military reprisals following the battle of Little Big Horn where Sioux warriors had soundly defeated General Custer's U.S. cavalry forces. Not wanting the responsibility of caring for any more natives, and under pressure from the Americans, the Canadian Government emphasized that the NWMP must encourage the Sioux to return to reserves in the U.S. This burden fell on Crozier, who over the next year, persuaded many of the Sioux to leave; including one of Sitting Bulls most trusted chiefs, Spotted Eagle. After a physical confrontation between Sitting Bull and Crozier, the famous warrior chief left Canada with many followers and surrendered to U.S. authorities at Fort Buford, Montana July 20, 1881.

At the conclusion of the crisis with the Sioux, Crozier again found himself spending time at several Mounted Police posts including Battleford Saskatchewan. At Battleford throughout the summer of 1884, he witnessed tensions rising with both the Natives and the Métis who were unhappy with the Canadian Government. These tensions rapidly escalated into armed conflict, resulting in what is now known as 'The Northwest Rebellion'. Crozier commanded a detachment of police and civilian volunteers during the conflict's first engagement at Duck Lake where he was wounded and forced to retreat saving his force from being surrounded and possibly defeated by the skillful Métis fighters. At first the defeat seemingly had little effect on his career as he was appointed assistant commissioner of the force on April, 8th , 1885.

Following the capture of rebel leader Louis Riel, and the cessation of hostilities, Crozier found himself constantly battling criticism over his defeat at Duck Lake. Canadian Prime Minister John A. Macdonald did not want another black mark on his political career and was eagerly searching for a scapegoat as to why the situation in the west was allowed to escalate. (Despite warning Ottawa on several occasions that trouble was imminent Crozier shouldered much of the blame). His request to be promoted to Commissioner of the force was turned down and civilian Lawrence Herchmer was appointed to the position. Crozier quietly resigned from the North West Mounted Police on June 30, 1886, ending a long career as a no-nonsense western lawman.