William Alexander, or according to his title, the Right Honorable
William, Earl of Stirling, better known in history as Lord Stirling,
was born in New York City, in 1726. His father, James Alexander, a
native of Scotland, fled to this country in 1716 after the wars of the
Pretender. Having been appointed Surveyor-General of New Jersey and New
York, he was able to give much personal supervision to the education of
his only son, and dying in 1756, left him an ample fortune. Thoroughly
trained in mathematics, and with a fine military spirit, William
Alexander distinguished himself in the French and Indian War; at its
close he visited Europe, took measures to establish his claim to the
earldom of Stirling, and returning to America, devoted himself to the
duties of Surveyor-General of New Jersey. His first opposition to the
mother country was his denunciation of the Stamp Act, and his efforts
to have it repealed. When bloodshed followed passive resistance, he
was selected, in the summer of 1775, to command a regiment. On the
1st of March, 1776, Congress appointed him brigadier-general. For
his gallantry during the attack of the British on New York, Congress
advanced him to the rank of major-general, on the 19th of February,
1777. Though compelled on several occasions to retreat before vastly
superior numbers, in each case he secured so advantageous a position,
and defended it with such courage and constancy, as to check the
further advance of the enemy, and to frustrate their purpose. During
the winter of 1777–78, while Washington was encamped at Valley Forge, a
conspiracy was set on foot to substitute Gates as commander-in-chief.
Providentially, this plot was discovered by Lord Stirling before any
material harm had resulted. It was not until 1780 that he obtained
leave of absence to visit his family, and to attend to his private
affairs at Baskenridge. In 1781, he again took the field to repel
a threatened invasion from Canada, and was actively engaged until
1783, when his useful and honorable career was brought to a close by
his death. He expired on the 15th of January, 1783, almost as deeply
mourned by the troops he had commanded as by his nearest connections
and warmest personal friends.