Yukon who is who

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Lawrence William Herchmer (1840 – 1915)
	
William Herchmer was born in Shipton-on-Cherwell, England to Frances Turner and William Macaulay Herchmer. His father had close ties to the Canadian Conservative government and the elite of Upper Canadian society. Herchmer was educated at Trinity College in Toronto and the Royal Military Academy in Woolwich, London England. He received a commission as an ensign when he was seventeen and served in India and Ireland.((S.W. Horrall, “Lawrence William Herchmer.” //Dictionary of Canadian Biography,// 2019 website: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/herchmer_lawrence_william_14E.html))

After his father’s death in 1862, Herchmer he sold his commission and was supply officer to the 1872-1874 boundary commission mapping the 49th parallel from Ontario to British Columbia. He operated a brewery in Winnipeg until 1876 when he became the Indian Agent at Birtle, Manitoba. In 1885, Herchmer was promoted to inspector of Indian agencies for the North-West Territories. After the North-West Rebellion he sat on a commission assessing damage caused by the conflict.((S.W. Horrall, “Lawrence William Herchmer.” //Dictionary of Canadian Biography,// 2019 website: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/herchmer_lawrence_william_14E.html))

In April 1886, he succeeded Acheson Gosford Irvine as commissioner for the North-West Mounted Police and transformed the police into a highly efficient [military] organization. Herchmer was not a popular commander and an inquiry into his actions proved him guilty of losing his temper and exceeding his authority in some disciplinary cases. After the Liberals and Laurier won the 1890s election, Clifford Sifton took over direct management of the Yukon contingent of Mounted Police through James Morrow Walsh.((S.W. Horrall, “Lawrence William Herchmer.” //Dictionary of Canadian Biography,// 2019 website: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/herchmer_lawrence_william_14E.html)) 

During the South African War, Herchmer commanded the Canadian Mounted Rifles until he took sick and was removed from command. Following true to his character, he lost his temper and was insubordinate and upon his return to Canada was pensioned off in 1900.((S.W. Horrall, “Lawrence William Herchmer.” //Dictionary of Canadian Biography,// 2019 website: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/herchmer_lawrence_william_14E.html))
	
The Mounted Police post in Dawson is named for William Herchmer.