Scottish soldier, traveller and author (1803–1885)
Sir
James Edward Alexander
Born (1803-10-16 ) 16 October 1803Stirling ,Scotland Died 2 April 1885(1885-04-02) (aged 81)Ryde ,Isle of Wight Buried Allegiance United Kingdom Branch East India Company Army British Army Rank General Unit Campaigns Awards Knight Bachelor , 1838[ 6] [ 7] Order of Saint John , Knight of Justice, 1842[ 8] Companion of the Order of the Bath , 1873[ 9] [ 8] Order of the Lion and the Sun (2nd Class), 1828[ 10] Order of the Crescent (2nd Class)[ 8] Order of the Medjidie (5th Class), 1858[ 5] [ 8] Army of India Medal , Ava clasp[ 8] Al Valore Militare Medal , 1828–29[ 8] South Africa Medal , 1853[ 8] Crimea Medal , Sebastopol clasp[ 5] [ 8] Turkish Crimea Medal , Sardinian issue[ 8] New Zealand War Medal , 1860–66[ 5] [ 8] Alma mater Royal Military College, Sandhurst Spouse(s)
General Sir James Edward Alexander Kt KStJ CB KLS FRSE FRGS [ 11] British Army .
Alexander was the driving force behind the placement ofCleopatra's Needle on theThames Embankment .[ 11]
Born inStirling ,[ 11] Clackmannanshire , and his second wife Catherine Glas, daughter of John Glas, Provost of Stirling.[ 7]
The family purchased Powis House near Stirling in 1808 from James Mayne (his uncle by marriage) for £26,500. His father, a banker, had to sell Powis House in 1827 on collapse of the Stirling Banking Company.[ 12] Edinburgh ,Glasgow , and theRoyal Military College, Sandhurst .
In 1837, he marriedEveline Marie Mitchell (16 April 1821 – 1906), daughter of ColonelCharles Collier Michell ,RA , surveyor general of Cape of Good Hope, inCape Town on 25 October 1837.[ 12]
In 1853, he obtained Westerton House inBridge of Allan , built in 1803 by Dr John Henderson of theEast India Company (a cousin and friend). Here he became an elder ofLogie Kirk , walking there each Sunday.[ 12]
He died inRyde on theIsle of Wight but is buried in Old Logie Churchyard just east of his home town of Stirling.[ 11]
After his death, his trustees sold Westerton House toEdmund Pullar .
In 1820, he joined the BritishEast India Company's army , transferring into theBritish Army in 1825. Asaide-de-camp to the British envoy to Persia, he witnessed fighting during the war betweenPersia andRussia in 1826 and in 1829 was present in theBalkans during theRusso-Turkish War, 1828-1829 .[ 13]
From 1832 to 1834, he witnessed theWar of the Two Brothers inPortugal , and in 1835 he took part in the6th Cape Frontier War in South Africa asaide-de-camp and private secretary toSir Benjamin d'Urban .[ 13]
In 1838, he was made aKnight Bachelor for his services.[ 7] Canada , among others in the staff ofSir William Rowan . During theCrimean War , he commanded the14th (Buckinghamshire) Regiment of Foot as lieutenant-colonel in theSiege of Sevastopol in 1855[ 7] New Zealand Wars , from 1860 to 1862.[ 14] [ 15] [ 16] [ 17]
On behalf of theRoyal Geographical Society (which he had co-founded), he conducted an exploring expedition intoNamaqualand andDamaraland , lasting from 8 September 1836 to 21 September 1837,[ 18] [ 19] Herero andNama , as well as drawing maps of the region and making a first list of Herero words.[ 20] [ 21]
Subsequently,John Arrowsmith (cartographer) made use of his data to draw a map accompanying his book of the expedition.Alexander Bay on theOrange River mouth, is named after him.[ 19]
In 1877, he was largely responsible for the preservation and transfer ofCleopatra's Needle to England.[ 18] [ 11]
General Sir James Edward Alexander c.1880
The grave of General Sir James Edward Alexander, Old Logie Kirkyard
Colonel Sir J. E. Alexander, 14th reg., circa 1860, maker unknown. Purchased 1916. Te Papa (O.011941)
Alexander, James Edward (1827).Travels from India to England: Comprehending a Visit to the Burman Empire, and a Journey Through Persia, Asia Minor, European Turkey, &c. In the years 1825–26 Alexander, James Edward (1830).Travels to the Seat of War in the East, through Russia and the Crimea, in 1829. With Sketches of the Imperial Fleet and Army, Personal Adventures, and Characteristic Anecdotes Alexander, James Edward (1830).Travels to the Seat of War in the East, through Russia and the Crimea, in 1829. With Sketches of the Imperial Fleet and Army, Personal Adventures, and Characteristic Anecdotes . Vol. 2. London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley. Alexander, James Edward (1833).Transatlantic Sketches: Comprising Visits to the Most Interesting Scenes in North & South America & West Indies with Notes on Negro Slavery and Canadian Emigration ISBN 9780608434056 {{cite book }}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help ) Alexander, James Edward (1833).Transatlantic Sketches: Comprising Visits to the Most Interesting Scenes in North & South America & West Indies with Notes on Negro Slavery and Canadian Emigration . Vol. 2. London: Richard Bentley. Alexander, James Edward (1835).Sketches in Portugal During the Civil War of 1834: With Observations on the Present State and Future Prospects of Portugal Alexander, James Edward (1837).Narrative of a Voyage of Observation among the Colonies of Western Africa, in the Flag-Ship Thalia; and of a Campaign in Kaffir-Land, on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, in 1835 Alexander, James Edward (1837).Narrative of a Voyage of Observation among the Colonies of Western Africa, in the Flag-Ship Thalia; and of a Campaign in Kaffir-Land, on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, in 1835 . Vol. 2. London: Henry Colburn. Alexander, James Edward (1838).An Expedition of Discovery into the Interior of Africa: Through the Hitherto Undescribed Countries of the Great Namaquas, Boschmans, and Hill Damaras, Performed Under the Auspices of Her Majesty's Government and the Royal Geographic Society BHL . Alexander, James Edward (1838).An Expedition of Discovery into the Interior of Africa: Through the Hitherto Undescribed Countries of the Great Namaquas, Boschmans, and Hill Damaras, Performed Under the Auspices of Her Majesty's Government and the Royal Geographic Society . Vol. 2. London: Henry Colburn. Alexander, James Edward (1839).Life of Field Marshal, His Grace the Duke of Wellington: Embracing His Civil, Military, and Political Career to the Present Time Alexander, James Edward (1840).Life of Field Marshal, His Grace the Duke of Wellington: Embracing His Civil, Military, and Political Career to the Present Time . Vol. 2. London: Henry Colbourn. Alexander, James Edward (1849).L'Acadie: or Seven Years' Explorations in British America Alexander, James Edward (1849).L'Acadie: or Seven Years' Explorations in British America Alexander, James Edward (1857).Passages in the Life of a Soldier, or, Military Service in the East and West Alexander, James Edward (1857).Passages in the Life of a Soldier, or, Military Service in the East and West Adamson, William Agar (1860). Alexander, James Edward (ed.).Salmon-Fishing in Canada doi :10.5962/bhl.title.56138 – via BHL.Alexander, James Edward (1863).Incidents of the last Maori-War in New Zealand, with Illustrations of Native Character, and the Prospects of Intending Colonists Alexander, James Edward, ed. (1863).The Albatross: Record of Voyage of the "Great Britain" Steam Ship from Victoria to England in 1862 Alexander, James Edward (1865).Notes on the Maories of New Zealand: with Suggestions for their Pacification and Preservation . London: Aborigines' Protection Society. Alexander, James Edward (1873).Bush Fighting: Illustrated by Remarkable Actions and Incidents of the Maori War in New Zealand Alexander, James Edward (1879).Cleopatra's Needle, the Obelisk of Alexandria: Its Acquisition and Removal to England . London: Chatto & Windus. ^a b c d WO 25/784/143, Folio 293: Statement of the Services of Capt. James Edw. Alexander of the 42nd Regiment of Foot with a Record of such other Particulars as may be useful in case of his Death 293– 294^ "War-Office, March 9, 1832" .The Edinburgh Gazette . No. 4050. 16 March 1832. p. 71.^ "War-Office, 11 September 1840" .The London Gazette . No. 19892. 11 September 1840. p. 2044.^ Hart, Henry George (1854).The New Annual Army List, and Militia List, for 1854 ^a b c d Hart, Henry George (1877).The New Annual Army List, Militia List and Indian Civil Service List, for 1877 (PDF) . Vol. 38. London: John Murray. p. 16.^ "St. James Palace" .The London Gazette . No. 19833. 6 March 1840. p. 555.^a b c d Dod, Robert P. (1863).The Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage of Great Britain and Ireland for 1863 ^a b c d e f g h i j Bonhams (2014)."Auction: Medals, Bonds, Banknotes and Coins, 12 November 2014, Knightsbridge, London. LOT 66: A C.B. and K.St.J. group of eleven to Major General Sir James Edward Alexander, 14th Foot, late 16th Lancers and 13th Light Dragoons" .Bonhams . Retrieved31 October 2023 . ^ "War Office, May 24, 1873" .The London Gazette . No. 232979. 24 May 1873. p. 2583.^ "Whitehall, March 26, 1834" .The London Gazette . No. 19143. 4 April 1834. p. 616.^a b c d e Waterston, Charles D; Macmillan Shearer, A (July 2006).Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783-2002: Biographical Index (PDF) . Vol. 1. Edinburgh:The Royal Society of Edinburgh .ISBN 978-0-902198-84-5 . Retrieved8 December 2011 . ^a b c Fergusson, Robert Menzies (1905).Logie: A Parish History; ^a b public domain : Chisholm, Hugh , ed. (1911). "Alexander, Sir James Edward ".Encyclopædia Britannica ^ "Matters Military: 14th, or Buckingham Regiment" .The New Zealand Herald . Vol. 2, no. 404. 28 February 1865. p. 6.^ "Colonel Sir James E. Alexander, in Answer to "L," of theSouthern Cross " .The Daily Southern Cross . Vol. 20, no. 2192. 30 July 1864. p. 7.^ Baker, Matiu; Cooper, Catherine Elizabeth; Fitzgerald, Michael; Rice, Rebecca (1 March 2024).Te Ata o Tū: The Shadow of Tūmatauenga: The New Zealand Wars Collections of Te Papa: The Shadow of Tūmatauenga, The New Zealand Wars Collections of Te Papa ^ "Memoranda" .The London Gazette . No. 25085. 17 March 1882. p. 1215.^a b "General Sir James Edward Alexander, Kt., C.B., K.C.L.S., &c" (PDF) .Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh .14 :170– 174. 1888.doi :10.1017/S0370164600004843 .^a b Gunn, Mary; Germishuizen, G. (2010).Botanical Exploration of Southern Africa. An Illustrated History of Early Botanical Literature on the Cape Flora: Biographical Accounts of the Leading Plant Collectors and Their Activities in Southern Africa from the Days of the East India Company Until Modern Times Strelitzia 26 (2 ed.). Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute. pp. 75– 76.ISBN 9781919976549 BHL . ^ Alexander, James Edward (1838).An Expedition of Discovery into the Interior of Africa: Through the Hitherto Undescribed Countries of the Great Namaquas, Boschmans, and Hill Damaras, Performed Under the Auspices of Her Majesty's Government and the Royal Geographic Society BHL . ^ Alexander, James Edward (1838).An Expedition of Discovery into the Interior of Africa: Through the Hitherto Undescribed Countries of the Great Namaquas, Boschmans, and Hill Damaras, Performed Under the Auspices of Her Majesty's Government and the Royal Geographic Society . Vol. 2. London: Henry Colburn. ^ International Plant Names Index . J.E.Alexander
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One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Alexander, Sir James Edward".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 564.