Editing James Howden MacBrien (section)

==Military career==
[[File:The people's war book; history, cyclopaedia and chronology of the great world war (1919) (14595271860) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Lieutenant General [[Arthur Currie|Sir Arthur Currie]] with [[Prince Arthur of Connaught|H. R. H. Prince Arthur of Connaught]] and other senior officers. Brigadier General J. H. MacBrien is stood in the second row, fifth from the left, directly behind Currie.]]

Educated in [[Port Perry, Ontario|Port Perry]] ([[Port Perry High School]]),<ref name=perry>{{Cite web |url=http://www.scugogheritage.com/misc/pioneers_m_to_p.htm |title=Port Perry / Scugog Township Heritage Gallery |access-date=2010-04-10 |archive-date=2019-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201013530/http://www.scugogheritage.com/misc/pioneers_m_to_p.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> MacBrien initially joined the [[Canadian Militia]] with the [[34th Ontario Regiment]] but then transferred to the [[North-West Mounted Police]] and, during the [[Second Boer War]], to the [[South African Constabulary]].<ref name="perry" /><ref name=can>{{cite encyclopedia |last=McAndrew |first=William J. |title=James Howden MacBrien |encyclopedia=[[The Canadian Encyclopedia]] |date=7 October 2014 |publisher=[[Historica Canada]] |edition=online |url= https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/james-howden-macbrien}}</ref> Returning to Canada he was [[Commissioned officer|commissioned]] into the [[Royal Canadian Dragoons]].<ref name=perry/>

He also served in [[World War I]] as a [[general staff officer]] and then, from 1916, as [[commanding officer]] of [[12th Infantry Brigade (Canada)|12th Infantry Brigade]].<ref name=can/> He was promoted to brevet lieutenant colonel in January 1917.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29886|page=18|date=29 December 1916|supp=y}}</ref>

After the war he was appointed [[Commander of the Canadian Army|Chief of the General Staff]].<ref name=can/>

He also served as the eighth [[Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police]], from August 1, 1931 to March 5, 1938.<ref name=perry/> MacBrien died in [[Toronto]].