The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were established on this date in 1873 as the North-West Mounted Police. The RCMP web site has an extensive history that begins:
On May 23, 1873, the Dominion Parliament passed an act to provide for the establishment of a “Mounted Police Force for the Northwest Territories”. The Force was recruiting men between the ages of 18 and 40, of sound constitution, able to ride, active, able-bodied and of good character. The pay was set at 75 cents per day for sub-constables, $1.00 for constables. Furthermore, the men were required to “be able to read and write either the English or French language.”
The Command was to be divided into Troops. The Commanding Officer was to be termed “Commissioner”. The term of service was set at three years. The Force was to be a paramilitary body. Its immediate objectives: to stop liquor trafficking in the North-west; to gain the respect and confidence of the natives; to collect customs dues; and to perform all the duties of a police force.