The Fourth Duke of Sutherland: Our Brush with Royalty

The Fourth Duke of Sutherland, a wealthy landowner from Europe, was a surprisingly influential person in populating the Brooks area.  

Born on June 20, 1851, in Scotland, Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower was the son of the Third Duke of Sutherland. Afte r his father’s death in 1892, Cromartie inherited much land and wealth, along with an influential title. In the year 1911, he bought 6,800 acres of land located in the eastern Brooks region, his mind full of potential uses for the land.  

He petitioned for irrigation for his land, which would create ideal farmland for immigrants. The premium land followed the Canadian Pacific Railway, making it easy to access and ensuring enough traffic to keep the town of Brooks going.  

The Duke invested in what was called the Sutherland Colony, a collection of ready-made farms perfect for immigrants seeking to start life afresh in Canada. Cromartie was attempting to create “Scotland in Alberta,” but rumours spread that he was trying to depopulate his home country Scotland, resulting in most of his early settlers being from England. Despite these setbacks, the Sutherland Colony became one of the most successful colonies in the district.  

The Canadian Pacific Railway built Cromartie a house, a masterpiece that was ironically called “the Bungalow,” but he only lived there one year before his death. The Duke didn’t spend very much time in Canada at all, only making several trips to see his land, the last being the spring before his death in 1913. 

The Duke of Sutherland died in June of 1913 at Dunrobin Castle, Scotland. Irrigation wasn’t available for farmers to use until 1915, so Cromartie never saw the fruits of his labour. His money and title were what gave him influence, but he believed in the possibilities of what he could accomplish, which led to him starting one of the most successful irrigation colonies in the Brooks district. 

Bibliography 

 Brooks, Between the Red Deer and the Bow. Delday, Eva. Brooks, Alberta, 1975. Print.  

Mile 723: Brooks - A Prairie Railstop Turns 100. Nesbitt, James. Brooks, Alberta, 2010. Print.  

The Contribution of the Fourth Duke of Sutherland to the Brooks Community & The  

Duke of  Sutherland’s Alberta Lands. A SUMMER CANADA 1981 Student  

Employment Program. Print.