Sir Samuel Benfield Steele was bom on January 5, 1848 at Purbrook, in Medonte Township near Orillia, Ontario where he later grew up. He was the fourth son of Captain Elmes Yelverton Steele of the Royal Navy. He joined the 35* Regiment, Simcoe Militia (now the Grey and Simcoe Foresters) in Barrie at the age of seventeen and served as an ensign during the Fenian Raid of 1866 and as a private in the Ontario Rifles with the Red River Expedition in 1870. On that expedition he formed impressions of that part of the country that influenced the rest of his life. He also began to create the legacy of his own reputation, full of tales of both his behaviour as a gentleman and his strength and courage in carrying out his duties.

Back in Ontario in 1871, he joined the new Canadian Army in the Artillery school being formed at Kingston, then moved over to the North West Mounted Police when it was formed in 1873. During the Saskatchewan Rebellion, he raised Steele's Scouts, a force made up of both Mounted Policemen and cowboys. He eventually rose to Lt. Colonel and Commander of the North West Mounted Police force at Dawson. His character was evident early when he led the way in non-violent settlement of potentially violent confrontations such as those with workers building the new railroad, contributing largely to the internationally respected character of law enforcement that Canada enjoys to this day. He was described at the time as "the greatest police officer Canada has ever produced."

Sam Steele's subsequent service as first Commanding Officer of Strathcona's Horse in 1900, now Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), led to it being said by the British High Commission on the conduct of the Anglo Boer War that "there was no better commander than the tough-riding Colonel (Steele) from Canada." His life was marked by honours, including a knighthood and achievements that make him a truly important figure in Canadian history and the formation of the nation: a real Canadian hero.

Major-General Sir Sam Steele died in England on January 30th, 1919 at the age of 70 and was, by his own wishes, returned to Canada to be buried at Winnipeg where he received full military honours. His funeral cortege passed through Winnipeg during the general strike of 1919. Rioting stopped and men lined the streets to honour Steele's passing.