Manitoba Heritage Council Commemorative Plaques

Major Charles A. Boulton 1841-1899

Born in Cobourg, Upper Canada (Ontario) in 1841, Major Boulton came West in 1869 as a member of the first Canadian Survey party under Colonel J.S. Dennis. Boulton was the reluctant leader of the Portage la Prairie party in opposition to Louis Riel in 1870. He was condemned to death but subsequently reprieved.

A promoter of railways and settlement, he located near Rossburn in 1880 and founded the towns of Russell in 1881 and Shellmouth in 1882. He also established Russell's first newspaper.

In the North-West Rebellion of 1885 he formed and led Boulton's Scouts who fought at Fish Creek and Batoche. He later held several local offices and in 1889 was appointed to the Senate of Canada.