Major General William Alexander
(1726-1783) was one of George Washington's most trusted generals. Both
had served as general aides during the French and Indian War, both were
prominent and successful. William Alexander spent several years in London
pursuing his claim to the vacant Earldom of Stirling - a Scottish peerage
which would have entitled him to attend the House of Lords. Had his claim
been perfected, he would have been one of only two Lords in North America.
Even though he did not receive the imprimatur of Parliament to the Earldom,
he called himself Lord Stirling, anyway. So did George Washington.
This biography was written by his grandson,
William Alexander Duer, of Morristown, New Jersey. It was originally published
in 1847 by the New Jersey Historical Society, and has been out of print
for over 150 years. The work examines Lord Stirling's life primarily through
his correspondence. It remains one of the key sources on this outstanding,
but little known patriot.