William Alexander (American general)
| William Alexander (aka Lord Stirling) | |
|---|---|
Lord Stirling
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Earl of Stirling |
| Born | December 4, 1726 New York City, Province of New York |
| Died | January 15, 1783 (aged 56–57) Albany, New York, U.S.A. |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 Continental Army
|
| Years of service | 1775–1783 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands held |
1st New Jersey Regiment Continental Army (2 months) |
| Battles/wars | |
William Alexander, known as Lord Stirling, (1726 New York City – 15 January 1783), was an American Brigadier-General during the American Revolutionary War. Alexander was considered male-heir to the title of Earl of Stirling through Scottish lineage (being the senior male descendant of the paternal grandfather of the first Earl of Stirling, who had died in 1640), and sought the title sometime after 1756. His claim was granted by a Scottish Court; however, the House of Lords ultimately over-ruled Scottish law and denied the title, granting Alexander instead the compromise title of Lord.
Lord Stirling commanded the 1st Maryland Regiment that fought at the Battle of Long Island. He lost the battle and was captured but his actions allowed General George Washington's troops to escape. Stirling was returned by prisoner exchange, promoted for his actions, and served with distinction throughout the war. He was trusted by Washington and in 1780 he exposed the Conway Cabal.
Alexander was educated, ambitious, and proficient in mathematics and astronomy. He joined his mother, Mary Alexander, in a successful business and, in 1747, married Sarah Livingston, the daughter of Philip Livingston (1686-1749) and sister of Governor William Livingston. The couple had two daughters and one son William. One of his daughters, Mary Alexander, would marry a wealthy merchant named Robert Watts of New York. Another daughter Catherine was the wife of Congressman William Duer.
The title Earl of Stirling became dormant or expired upon the death of Henry Alexander, the 5th Earl of Stirling. William's father, James Alexander, who had fled from Scotland in 1716 after participating in the Jacobite rising, did not seek the title. Upon his death William lay claim to the title and filed suit. His relationship to the 5th Earl was not through heirs of the body, but through heir male collateral and the inheritance by Proximity of blood had been questioned. It was settled in his favor, by a unanimous vote of a jury of twelve in a Scottish court in 1759, and William claimed the disputed title of Earl of Stirling. It is not clear if the case went to court because of an unfavorable answer from the Lord Lyon King of Arms concerning the peerage.
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