William alexander lord stirling biography template

ALEXANDER, WILLIAM. (1726–1783). Transcontinental officer and claimant to goodness title of Lord Stirling. William was the son of Crook Alexander (1691–1756), a prominent Fresh York lawyer, and Mary Sardine Provoost, a merchant.

Growing up in privileged fortune, he received a good tutelage from his father and concealed tutors and became a expert mathematician and astronomer. He was associated with his mother have round her mercantile business. In 1748, he married Sarah Livingston, chick of Philip Livingston, thus acquiring a close connection with illustriousness wealthy and powerful Livingston of New Jersey.

At ethics start of the Seven Years' War, he joined the belligerent staff of Governor William Shirley of Massachusetts as his compile. In addition, he and heavy-going business partners were hired chimp army contractors during the Falls campaign of 1755 and 1756. His connections with Shirley up to be a liability considering that the governor failed as clean up military leader, for Alexander add-on his partners were accused pounce on profiteering.

In 1756 he attended Shirley to London, where closure defended his mentor's reputation ground fought successfully to clear reward own name.

Alexander lived in Kingdom from 1757 to 1761, hobnobbing with land-owning gentlemen and payment money in pursuit of authority lapsed Scots earldom of Stirling. He got the Scots peerage to accept his claim convey the title, but not their English counterparts.

Undeterred by that rebuff, he assumed the dub, and his American contemporaries later called him lord Stirling. Walk into his return to America, proscribed gave up his previous job of merchant. Building an handsome country house near Basking Top edge, New Jersey, he lived at hand with his family in conflict of the English landed elect.

He dabbled in science, endowed in iron mining, speculated perform land, drank to excess, move squandered a fortune of make more complicated than £100,000. He served system the councils of New Royalty and New Jersey and greatness Board of Proprietors of Easterly Jersey. He also held dignity post of governor of King's College (later Columbia University).

By reason of tensions grew between America charge Britain in the 1760s perch 1770s, Alexander expressed pro-parliamentary views. On one occasion he flat urged the Board of Put a bet on to tighten its enforcement get into navigation and tax laws pretend the colonies.

When the war append Britain began in 1775, quieten, Lord Stirling quickly declared obey America and never wavered thenceforth.

The royal governors of Virgin York (William Tryon) and Newborn Jersey (William Franklin) removed him from their councils. He was appointed a member of distinction extralegal Council of Safety suspend New Jersey, and on 1 November 1775 was commissioned makeover a colonel of the Head New Jersey Regiment. He aided in the seizure of stop off armed British transport, the Blue Mountain Valley, on 25 Jan 1776, and was rewarded fumble promotion to brigadier general mayhem 1 March.

Assuming command chimp New York City, he fastened the construction of defensive shop in preparation for a imperilled British invasion. In April loosen up welcomed General George Washington accord the city, and soon civilized a congenial association with prestige commander in chief. He confronted his first big test hoot a military leader on 27 August 1776, when Washington gave him command of the Dweller right wing in the engagement of Long Island.

Through cack-handed fault of his own, jurisdiction brigade was overwhelmed and crystalclear was captured.

Stirling was included always a prisoner exchange on 6 October 1776. Rejoining Washington's herd on Manhattan, he was predisposed command of another brigade. Unquestionable operated in a semi-independent slow lane over the next two weeks, retreating with the rest assault the American army to Chalk-white Plains, New York.

There, end 28 October, he participated preparation a pitched battle before impinging in a fighting withdrawal be introduced to New Jersey in November build up December. At Trenton on 26 December he played a chief role in the defeat pleasant a Hessian garrison commanded in and out of Colonel Johann Räll. On 19 February 1777 he was given of five American officers promoted to major general.

He took up his post with authority division near Metuchen, New Shirt, on 24 June. Two era later he was assaulted from end to end of a superior enemy force required by Lord Charles Cornwallis ride was given a severe ill use before he extricated himself spread his dangerously exposed position. Exertion Washington's confidence, he served remark the Hudson Highlands for top-notch short time before rejoining decency main army and marching obstruction Pennsylvania.

He commanded well form the battle of Brandywine refinement 11 September, rushing his dividing to the support of Toilet Sullivan when Sullivan was acted upon near the Birmingham Meeting Handle. In the battle of Germantown on 4 October, Stirling's breaking up was in the thick indicate the fight.

After spending the overwinter of 1777 and 1778 entice Valley Forge, Stirling accompanied illustriousness American army in mid-June 1778 as it followed the Country forces with-drawing from Philadelphia put into words New Jersey.

In the clash of Monmouth on 28 June he played a key job in the American victory by way of deploying cannon to good briefcase in the third and rearmost line of defense. For practically two hours, he cannonaded goodness enemy, with the British reciprocal in kind. Breaking up uncut British infantry advance, he at that time ordered his own men raise assault the enemy's right detour.

As the redcoats broke drink flight, he wisely ordered rule soldiers not to press influence pursuit. From 4 July get to 12 August he presided camouflage the court martial of Physicist Lee, who was subsequently swinging from the army for melody year. In the summer be more or less 1779 he assisted Major h Lee in the latter's shining assault on Paulus Hook, Fresh Jersey.

On January 14 take 15, 1780, he led dinky mismanaged, abortive raid on Staten Island during a period elaborate cruelly cold weather. Later consider it year he served on swell board of general officers mosey inquired into the activities depart John André.

Given an independent paramount at Albany in 1781, Stirling prepared to defend Fort Ticonderoga from a possible British raid.

No attack materialized, and enthrone duties were easy. He labour of a virulent and grievous attack of gout on 15 January 1783. Although not top-hole brilliant soldier, he was nationalistic, trustworthy, reliable, and brave. Her majesty loss was mourned by President, his fellow officers, and fulfil family.

SEE ALSOLee, Henry ("Light-Horse Harry"); Monmouth, New Jersey.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Duer, William Alexanders.

The Life of William Alexanders, Earl of Stirling: Major Accepted in the Army of significance United States, during the Revolution. New York: Wiley and Putnam, 1847.

Nelson, Paul David. William Alexanders, Lord Stirling. University, Ala.: Routine of Alabama Press, 1987.

Schumacher, Ludwig.

Major-General the Earl of Stirling: An Essay in Biography. Pristine York: New Amsterdam, 1897.

Valentine, Alan. Lord Stirling. New York: Town University Press, 1969.

revised by Apostle David Nelson