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The Honourable Archibald J. McLean
1860 - 1933

Rancher, Politician and one of the original sponsors of the Calgary Stampede.

Born in Ontario, McLean came to Southern Alberta in 1886 to work as a ranch hand for the Cypress Cattle Company (CY Ranch). The following year he became a partner and the manager. From his ranch in Taber, Alberta, he started and operated Bater and McLean, an overseas cattle exporting company.

In 1909 McLean was elected Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) to represent the Lethbridge District. In 1901, he was appointed Provincial Secretary and later appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs and Minister of Public Works, where he helped to develop a provincial highway system.

In 1912, McLean and well known Calgary businessmen A.E. Cross, George Lane, and Pat Burns sponsored the first Calgary Rodeo, the Calgary Stampede. The 'Big Four' building on the Stampede grounds is named after these four friends.

In 1921, McLean retired from politics and returned to ranching in Taber and running cattle on the Peigan reserve near Fort Macleod until his death in 1933.

Colonel James Farquharson Macleod
1836 - 1894
Founder of Fort Macleod

James Macleod was born in 1836 on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. His family emigrated to Upper Canada in 1845 where he subsequently attended Queens University. In 1856 Macleod joined the Canadian Militia as a lieutenant in the Artillery. In 1860 he was called to the Bar. At the outbreak of the Red River Uprising in 1870 he was promoted to brigade major.

In 1873 the Canadian Dominion government formed the North West Mounted Police. The purpose of the NWMP was to drive out the American whiskey traders and to bring law and order to the North West Territories so as to allow for settlement.

Col. Macleod was made Assistant Commissioner, second in command, of the NWMP. In 1874, he and Colonel George French led the "Great March West", a 1600 km trek from Fort Dufferin, Manitoba to Southern Alberta. During the grueling march, Macleod travelled to Fort Benton, Montana, to seek supplies and a guide. There he recruited Jerry Potts.

Col. Macleod established a fort at the confluence of the Old Man River and Willow Creek. With the aid of Jerry Potts, he began building relations with the Blackfoot. He also sent patrols to establish a fort in the Cypress Hills (Fort Walsh) and on the Bow River (Fort Calgary, which he named for Calgary Bay on the Isle of Mull, Scotland). In 1876 he became Commissioner of the NWMP. Macleod helped to create the relationship with the Blackfoot people that led to the signing of Treaty No. 7 in 1877. His friendly relationships with the Chiefs of the Blackfoot, led them to name him "Stamixotokan", or "Bull's Head", probably from the bull depicted on Macleod's family crest.

In 1880 he resigned as Commissioner to act as a Magistrate. He devoted himself to his judicial duties in a district that included Fort Macleod, Pincher Creek, Fort Walsh, Fort Calgary and Edmonton. In 1887 he became Judge of the Supreme Court for the North West Territories, a role he held until his death, in Calgary, at the age of 58.