Selected Papers of William Alexander, Lord Stirling, 1767-1782

Known as the "Republican Earl", William Alexander, "Lord Stirling", was born in 1726 in New York City. He served on the Provincial Councils of New York and New Jersey, and in 1775, joined the Whigs in rebellion against the Crown. In March 1776 Alexander was appointed brigadier general and took chief command of the defense of New York City. In 1777, he was promoted to major-general. He died in January 1783 of fever and gout. These selected papers, spanning the years 1767 to 1782 (with a gap between late December 1779 and June 1781), consist of correspondence sent and received, military orders and reports, and bulletins to the Continental Congress. The earliest documents relate Lord Stirling's early commercial dealings, but the bulk of the papers chronicle his activities during the American Revolution. Notable correspondents include most of the military and political leaders of the new state and national governments, as well as prominent merchants in New York and New Jersey.