The Life of William Alexander, Lord Stirling: George Washington's Noble General

by Paul David Nelson

The biographical account of a man who served 18th-century American society as a prominent citizen in peacetime and as a soldier in the Seven Years’ War and the American Revolution
 
At the beginning of the Revolutionary War Stirling was appointed a colonel in the New Jersey Continental Line and from there rose to the rank of Major General. A brave and loyal soldier, he greatly impressed General George Washington, who made him commander of one of the five divisions of the Continental Army. Serving in this capacity, Stirling made his reputation as a military man fighting in the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Trenton, Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. He spent the winter of 1777-78 with Washington at Valley Forge. From time to time he carried out independent military operations, most notably a raid against Staten Island in January 1780. Stirling’s buoyant optimism and reckless enthusiasm for any task led one military comrade to state that his high birth and good humor provided him with many more opportunities in life than his skill and intelligence would have permitted. He died while in command of the Northern Department on January 15, 1783, full of military glory and, according to one cynic, “good liquor.”
 

Genres: American Revolution

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 1987

About the author

Paul David Nelson (Dave) came from Patrick County, Virginia to attend Berea College, graduating in 1965. He went on to Duke University for a master’s degree and then a Ph.D. After a brief stint at Villanova University, he returned to Berea to teach in 1970, becoming Julian-Van Dusen professor in 1993. From 1992 to 2003 he served as chair of the History Department. Nelson won the Seabury Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1996 and retired from Berea College in 2005.

Reviews

[Breck Baumann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant biography of a rather neglected general for the Continental army by Paul David Nelson, whom has covered his fair share of reclusive officers of the Revolutionary War. Here, Nelson in good fashion chronicles Alexander's family background and upbringing, calling attention to his ill-fated (albeit shameless) attempts to acquire his status as "Lord" and become one among the European-established gentry—almost to the point of bankruptcy. Having in his mind satisfied this task as a Scottish earl, Nelson meticulously follows his sojourn back to New York where he would construct a memorable estate and name for himself among the Whigs of all factions, all of which would lead to his eventual rise in rank and status for the War of Independence:

But Stirling, rather than being melancholic, declared optimistically that the British would now realize “that we can drive them before us for Several miles together, and that we know how to Retreat in good & defy them to follow us. We are now stronger than we were the day before yesterday, large reinforcements are nigh at hand, and the Enemy will find that after every Battle our Army will increase, and theirs diminish, this is fighting at such a disadvantage that they must soon be Convinced that they never can Support the war in America.” In these comments, Stirling was not indulging in idle speculation. In fact, he had correctly identified one of America’s greatest assets, and Britain’s worst liabilities, during the American revolutionary war.

While Stirling’s tactics and maneuvers in such battles as Long Island, Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth are all professionally recounted and documented, Nelson dutifully follows his faults in judgment—particularly his love of all things wine and spirits—to a tee. Complementary to all of his works, Professor Nelson’s writing is highly engaging and well-researched throughout, without the fluff and filler that strays from the title character’s exploits found in other concise biographical works. This is especially welcome when considering Stirling’s eventful life ended abruptly at the early age of 57, just as the war was coming to a close. Timeless and quintessential, Nelson’s William Alexander, Lord Stirling earns itself a special place amongst the shelves of the great Revolutionary War generals.

[Eugene A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Character and Contributions of a Revolutionary Lord - Major General William Alexander

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


Revolutionary war historians tend to focus on the most famous generals to the neglect of lessor known ones who also made valuable military contributions and who exhibited interesting personalities. Paul David Nelson rectifies this omission through his highly engaging biography “The Life of William Alexander, Lord Sterling”. Incongruously, this self-styled Scottish Lord became a Continental Army Major General and a loyal subordinate of George Washington. Over seven years, Lord Sterling played an important leadership role in numerous Continental Army campaigns and battles.

One of the best attributes of Nelson’s book is his personal characterization of Lord Sterling. Following a non-combat career in the French & Indian War as a secretary to Governor William Shirley, Alexander became an aggressive and valuable Patriot military commander. Nelson opines, "For neither he (Alexander) nor anyone else could have predicted that this overweight, rheumatic, vain, pompous, gluttonous inebriate would have been so ardent in battle". Even in revolutionary times when most people consumed copious amounts of alcohol, contemporaries noted Alexander for being a heavy drinker throughout his life,.

After the conclusion of the French & Indian War, Alexander traveled to Britain to seek confirmation of a faintly defined family title as Earl, Lord Sterling. While he received confirmation from the Scottish parliament, the important English confirmation never materialized. As a result British military officers and gentlemen derided Alexander as a pretender. However, close American friends such as Generals Anthony Wayne, George Washington and others affectionately called him “My Lord”, even though the Patriots were fighting for republican values.

In 1775, Lord Sterling fought valiantly in his first major military command at the battle of Brooklyn, New York. He led a regiment that faced the full brunt of a superior British force. Alexander rallied his troops in a heroic attack on the British to allow other American units to retreat to the safety of fortifications on Brooklyn Heights. The British overwhelmed Lord Sterling’s command. In the battle’s last moments when there was no hope for victory, a plucky Lord Sterling offered his sword to a Hessian officer rather than to surrender to a condescending British officer.

At first, the British treated the captive Lord Sterling with derision but soon tried to co-opt him to offer peace terms to the Continental Congress. However, Lord Sterling proved not to be a willing ambassador for the British peace initiative. Again Nelson offers a pithy character assessment. "As the campaign progressed, General Howe found Lord Sterling's attendance at his headquarters to be less and less indispensable. It is entirely possible that he recognized in Sterling the prisoner a greater threat to his supply of vintage than Sterling the soldier would be to British operation".

After being exchange for Montfort Brown, Governor of Providence Island (Bahamas), Lord Sterling resumed command responsibilities with the Continental Army. He led brigades or regiments in most of the subsequent major battles that Washington commanded including Trenton, Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth. Lord Sterling provided to be an able battlefield commander with an effective combination of aggressiveness, courage, steadiness and solid decision-making.

After the Battle of Monmouth, the war in the north devolved into a military stalemate. During this period, Lord Sterling successfully led multiple skirmishes and raids in areas surrounding New York City. As a result, Washington exhibited a high degree of confidence in him and assigned Lord Sterling as the overall commander when Washington left the Army’s encampment to visit the Continental Congress. Near the end of the war, Lord Sterling received his only independent field of command. Posted to Albany, he was named Northern Department commander in 1781. During this assignment, he defended the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys from several British incursions from Canada. With his typical aggressiveness, he sought to go on the offensive and capture Canada, but could not secure either the material or political support for such an extensive offensive campaign.

In January 1783, after seven years of harsh living military campaign living and a lifetime of overeating and heavy drinking, Lord Sterling succumbed to illness and did not live to enjoy the benefits of peace and independence gained later in the year. William Alexander died at the age of 57. Washington wrote to Congress, “The remarkable bravery, intelligence, and promptitude of his Lordship to perform his duty as an Officer, has endeared him to the whole Army; and now make his loss the more sincerely regretted.”

For someone characterized as a committed family man, Nelson provides little information on his wife and children. Unfortunately, this is consistent with most other Continental Army Major Generals. However, Nelson provides a discerning evaluation of Lord Sterling’s financial affairs. He aptly describes Lord Sterling’s financial affairs including charges of war profiteering during the French & Indian War, lavish spending beyond his means, and running through a large inheritance. In the end, Lord Sterling left his family almost penniless.

Nelson sums up Lord Sterling’s life as a “merchant, family man, landed aristocrat, monarchist, republican and soldier…. Although he made significant contributions to politics, commerce, and especially warfare, his overriding personality characteristic was an all-engrossing enthusiasm for whatever he set his mind to do.” Lord Sterling was a likeable, good-humored person who endeared himself to those he came into contact. Lastly, his optimism provided comfort and support for those around him during risky, troubled and uncertain times. What sets Nelson’s biography of Lord Sterling apart from other major general biographies are these well researched and thoroughly described personal characteristics of an enigmatic and complex man. I mostly heartedly recommend this book to those who wish to understand more about the unsung leaders who helped Washington win the Revolutionary War.