Dr. Robert Miller

1846 - 1887  (41 years)

• Name	Robert Miller
  Prefix	Dr.
  Born	1846	, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/185697223
  Interesting	medicine, medical, suicide
  Residence	1861	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Free Church
  Occupation	1871	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Physician - Doctor - Dr.
  Residence	1871	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	C. Presbyterian
  Occupation	CA 1872	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Doctor
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-140658
  Died	1 Sep 1887	Battleford, , Saskatchewan, Canada
  Person ID	I140658	Generations
  Last Modified	3 Mar 2025

  
  

  Father	Judge William Miller,   b. 30 Oct 1810, Queenston, Welland Co, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 17 Jun 1891, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 80 years)
  Mother	Cornelia Cheseboro,   b. 1814, Canandaigua, Ontario, New York, USA ,   d. 6 Jul 1880, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 66 years)
  Family ID	F35187	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  MILLER, ROBERT a son of Judge Miller graduated from McGill University in 1870. He joined the North West Mounted Police, served for seventeen years and died at Battleford in September 1887. He was present at the Duck Lake battle, receiving special mention. Between his graduation in 1870, and his appointment to the RNWP in 1874, he may have practised in Galt, although there does not seem to be any mention of it. Dr. Alexander D. Campbell, Doctors in Waterloo County 1852-1925, 1986 ____________ DR. MILLER. The news of the sudden death of Dr. Miller, of the N.W.M.P., which occurred at Battleford on Thursday last, as will be seen by our telegraphic news, has caused a most painful feeling here, where the doctor was well known and appreciated. Probably of all the old-time Police officers, few were more respected than the doctor. He joined the Police in 1874, has been in the service ever since, and there is hardly a spot in the Northwest where he has not been stationed in the course of his long career. Perfectly unostentatious, in fact rather retiring than otherwise, he seldom attracted attention but when occasion demanded it, and then he rose equal to any emergency. In Prince Albert he will long be remembered as one of the heroes if not the hero of the Duck Lake fight. Perfectly cool and impassive, he not only stayed in the firing line, but attended to the wounded as they fell, and did all he could for them that circumstances would permit He escaped without a wound, al though a spent bullet was found in his instrument case. In the absence of civilian doctors, he was always willing to employ his splendid professional abilities, rarely taking a fee. In many a scattered settlement, in many a distant Police post, and moreover in many a half breed hut and Indian teepee this news will cause unfeigned regret, for few men were better known and none will be more missed in the Northwest than Robert Miller, The Saskatchewan Times Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada Friday, September 09, 1887 _______________ DETERMINED SUICIDE. Dr. Miller, N.W.M.P., Blows his Head Off. The town was thrown into a state of excitement on Tuesday evening by the report that Dr. Robert Miller, Assistant Surgeon to the North-West Mounted Police, stationed here, had committed suicide at his quarters in the barracks, by shooting himself. Particulars were not then known, but at discussion of the terrible event brought out the fact that he had frequently, and at dates reaching far back, spoken of shooting a himself as being a speedy and painless way of putting an end to all his troubles. The coroner, Mr. P. G. Laurie, being out of town was immediately sent for, the room in which the body lay being in the mean time locked up pending the holding of the s inquest. On Wednesday morning a jury was empannelled and an inquest held. The following were the jurors: H. H. Nash, foreman: A. T. Berthiaume, Wm. McKay, Arthur Dorion, Arthur Mamix, and Frank Otton. Adolphus Manseau, mess waiter, testified that he was in Dr. Miller's room about half-past five, when the deceased complained of not feeling very well and asked to have a plate of soup brought to his room, stating on that he would dress in the meantime. Witness shortly afterwards took up the soup as desired, and not receiving any answer to his knock opened the door, when he was horrified at seeing the Doctor lying dead upon his bed. He immediately rushed downstairs and told the officers what had happened. These particulors were brought out in the evidence of Mr. Gibson. A more minute examination by the jurors showed how the gun was discharged. Taking several thicknesses of the common white cotton twine generally used in grocery shops he had formed it into a loop, one part of which he had securely fastened to the trigger of the rifle while the other was passed under the hollow of the foot. Placing himself on his back in the bed with his head well raised on pillows he grasped the muzzle of the gun with both hands, the tube almost if not quite touching his face if it was not in his mouth, he straightened his leg, and the irrevocable deed was done. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased came to his death by a gunshot wound inflicted by his own hands while in a state of temporary insanity. The remains were taken to St. George's Church, where the first half of the burial service was read, and afterwards interred in the Mounted Police burial ground with the military honors military befitting his rank. Dr. Miller's friends say he has been very despondent of late, and that he frequently spoke of ending his troubles by suicide; but the fact that he spoke so freely of this led them to disbelieve that he had any serious intentions in that direction. Dr. Miller had been in the. Mounted of Police almost ever since the organization of the force, and for the greater part of the time was stationed at this post. He was son of Judge Miller, of Galt, Ont., and a brother of Mrs. J. B. Lash, of the Indian of the Indian Department. The deceased was unmarried. Manitoba Free Press Wed, Sep 21, 1887 Page 4 & Saskatchewan Herald, Battleford, Sasktchewan, 10 Sep 1887 __________________ Particulars of the Death of Dr. Miller, N. W. M. Police. The following particulars of Dr. Miller's suicide at Battleford are taken from the Battleford Herald:- "Adolphus Mansean, mess waiter, testified that he was in Dr. Miller's room about half past five, when the deceased complained of not feeling very well and asked to have a plate of soup brought to his room, stating that he would dress in the meantime. Witness shortly afterwards Look up the soup as desired, and not receiving any answer to his knock opened the door, when he was horrified at seeing the doctor lying dead upon his bed. He immediately rushed down stairs and told the officers what had happened. Major Cotton, Insp. Starnes and Mr. F. K. Gibson then went up, and the sight that met their gaze might well chill the strongest heart and make the spectator sick. Lying his back upon the bed, with his outer clothes removed, covered with the bed-clothes except his right foot, from which the stocking had been removed, was all that remained of one who had so recently been mixing in their company. Upon the outside of the bed was a Snider rifle with the muzzle pointing to wards the head of the bed, the barrel grasped tightly with both hands, firmly set in the rigor of death. Where the head should have been was but a confused and bloody mass, while scattered over the bed and the room were the fragments of skull and bone. On the floor at a distance of five or six feet from the bed lay one of the lobes of the brain, and on the dressing table the other, both unbroken. The condition of the walls at the head and back of the bed and of the room generally attested the violence of the explosion that had wrought the sad deed. These particulars were brought out is the evidence of Mr. Gibson. A more minute examination by the jurors showed how the gun was discharged. Taking several thicknesses of the common white cotton twine generally used in grocery shops he had formed it into a loop, one part of which he had securely fastened to the trigger of the rifle while the other was passed under the hollow of the foot. Placing himself on his back in the bed with his head well raised on pillows he grasped the muzzle of the gun with both hands, the tube almost if not quite touching in his mouth, he straightened his leg, and the irrevocable deed was done. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased came to his death by a gunshot wound inflicted by his own hands while in a state of temporary insanity. Dr. Miller's friends say he has been very despondent of late, and that he frequently spoke of ending his troubles by suicide; but the fact that he spoke so freely of this led them to disbelieve that he had any serious intentions in that direction. Dr. Miller had been in the Mounted Police almost ever since the organization of the force, and for the greater part of the time was stationed at this post. was a son of of Judge Miller, of Galt, He and a brother of Mrs J., B. Lash, of the Indian Department. The deceased was unmarried. A singular thing in connection with this tragedy is that no one in the house heard the report or felt the shock of the discharge of the rifle. Manitoba Weekly Free Press Thu, Sep 22, 1887 Page 8

  
  

• Sources

  [S570] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 33. [S1838] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1861, Galt 1861 Div. 1 Page 9.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1846 - , Ontario, Canada Residence - Free Church - 1861 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Physician - Doctor - Dr. - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - C. Presbyterian - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Doctor - CA 1872 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 1 Sep 1887 - Battleford, , Saskatchewan, Canada  = Link to Google Earth