Aylesworth Perry

Infobox Military Person


name= Aylesworth Bowen Perry
|caption=
rank=Commissioner; Major-General
branch=Canadian Forces
commands= =Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
unit=
battles=
family=
nickname=
allegiance=Canada
lived= (August 21, 1860 – February 14, 1956)
placeofbirth= Violet, near Napanee, Ontario
placeofdeath= Ottawa, Ontario
serviceyears=
portrayedby=
laterwork=
awards=Order of St. Michael and St. George Honorary Aide-de-camp

Aylesworth Bowen Perry, C.M.G. (August 21, 1860 – February 14, 1956) served as the sixth Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, from August 1, 1900 to March 31, 1923.

Early life

Perry was born at Violet, near Napanee, Ontario, on August 21, 1860, and was educated at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario.

Career

He was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. From 1881-1882 Perry worked with the Geological Survey of Canada. In January 1882 he was appointed an Inspector in the North-West Mounted Police. A contingent under his command travelled to London, England for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. He was placed in command of the police in the Yukon in 1899 and was appointed Commissioner of the North-West Mounted Police from August 1, 1890 until his retirement on April 1, 1923. He served nearly 23 years in office, and was the longest-serving commissioner of the RCMP. As commissioner, he organized a secret service for intelligence gathering, instituted annual training classes, increased pay rates, revised regulations related to marriage, formed two squadrons to fight in the First World War and approved changes to the uniform, with perhaps the formal adoption of the Stetson hat being the most noted.
King Edward VII added the title "Royal" to the North West Mounted Police in 1904 when Perry was in command. He was a principal advisor to the government during the Winnipeg General Strike in 1919. He reorganized the Force in 1920 after it absorbed the Dominion Police, extended police services throughout Canada and moved headquarters from Regina, Saskatchewan to Ottawa, Ontario. The Force emerged as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He died in Ottawa, Ontario on February 14, 1956.

Honours

In 1909, he was awarded the Order of St. Michael and St. George. In 1920 he was given the title "Honorary Aide-de-camp to His Excellency The Governor General". Upon his retirement, he was awarded the rank of Major-General by the Canadian Militia.

References

* [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0006233 Aylesworth Bowen Perry] at The Canadian Encyclopedia
* [http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/canadiancavalry/rcmpperry.htm Aylesworth Bowen Perry] at www.britishempire.co.uk

Books

*4237 Dr. Adrian Preston & Peter Dennis (Edited) "Swords and Covenants" Rowman And Littlefield, London. Croom Helm. 1976.
*H16511 Dr. Richard Arthur Preston "To Serve Canada: A History of the Royal Military College of Canada" 1997 Toronto, University of Toronto Press, 1969.
*H16511 Dr. Richard Arthur Preston "Canada's RMC - A History of Royal Military College" Second Edition 1982
*H16511 Dr. Richard Preston "R.M.C. and Kingston: The effect of imperial and military influences on a Canadian community" 1968
*H1877 R. Guy C. Smith (editor) "As You Were! Ex-Cadets Remember". In 2 Volumes. Volume I: 1876-1918. Volume II: 1919-1984. Royal Military College. [Kingston] . The R.M.C. Club of Canada. 1984