Auction Date:2011 Apr 16 @ 13:00 (UTC+1)
Location:The Freemasons Hall - 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin, Dublin, ., Ireland
1870-1902: The bicorne hat of Major General G. A. French first commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
with bullion decoration and goose feathers
Provenance:
Acquired by the present owner from a member of the French family
Bicorne hat and feather plume both in tin fitted cases. Jappaned tin containing hat with brass name tag inscribed "Major General G. A. French C.M.G." and containing an envelope addressed to Major General Sir G. A. French, a newspaper clipping from the Irish Times dated the 3rd of May 1988 relating to Major General French and a note containing some biographical details.Major General Sir George Arthur French was born in Roscommon in 1841, the son of John French of Artane, County Dublin. After serving for a time with the Royal Irish Constabulary he entered the British Army being educated at the Royal Military Academies at Sandhurst and Woolwich before being commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1860. In 1862 he was posted to Canada where he served for four years at Kingston, Ontario as an adjutant. After the downsizing of the British Army presence in Canada, French was sent on loan to the Canadian Army where he worked as chief instructor for the school of gunnery at Kingston.In view of the need for a mounted police force in Canada, Prime Minister Sir John A. McDonald decided to establish the North West Mounted Police (later Royal Canadian Mounted Police). On the 3 of May 1873 the new organization came into being and in October of the same year McDonald extended an invitation to French to become the first commissioner of the force. Despite a new government giving French little support the N.W.M.P. under his command set out on their famous march in July 1874 into the west and the Rocky Mountains, a journey of over 400 miles. Their aim was to try and combat increasing lawlessness in the region, a formidable task given the vastness of the area but his new police force quickly established a reputation for honesty, justice and fair play. French's administrative and logistical skills are recognised as the main reason for the success of that march but his command of the force came to an abrupt end in 1876 when the tension between French and his political superiors resulted in his forced resignation.
For his services in Canada he was awarded the Order of St. Michael and St. George. He returned to England for service with the Royal Artillery and in July 1881 was promoted to the rank of Major. In 1883 he was sent to Australia as commander of the Queensland Defence Force. Between that year and his retirement in 1902 he played a significant role in organising the defence forces of both Queensland and New South Wales and was appointed president of the Federal military committee by Sir John Forrest to draft a defence act for Australia. After his retirement he lived in London where he died on the 7 July 1921 and was buried in Brompton Cemetery.
Auction Location:
The Freemasons Hall - 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin, Dublin, ., Ireland
Previewing Details:
At our galleries
38 Molesworth Street
Dublin 2
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Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
20% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
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Payment Details:
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