Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 1.djvu/53

 became a journalist at the age of sixteen. At first he wrote for the 'Norfolk News,' and afterwards transferred his services to the 'Oxford Journal.' In 1866 he joined the parliamentary reporting staff of 'The Times,' and after eight years' work in that capacity was sent to Paris in 1874 to act as assistant to Henri Opper de Blowitz, 'The Times' Paris correspondent. There he remained for twenty-eight years. His leisure he chiefly devoted to historical research in the Bibliotheque Nationale and National Archives. He made himself thoroughly familiar with the topographical history of Paris, and threw new light on byways of the French revolution, investigating with especial thoroughness the part which Englishmen played in the great movement. His chief publications were: He also published 'The Paris Sketch Book' (a description of current Parisian life) (1887); contributed historical articles to several leading magazines, and was an occasional contributor to this Dictionary. In 1902 Alger retired from the service of 'The Times' on a pension, and settled in London. He died unmarried at 7 Holland Park Court, Addison Road, West Kensington, on 23 May 1907.
 * 1) 'Englishmen in the French Revolution,' 1889.
 * 2) 'Glimpses of the French Revolution,' 1894.
 * 3) 'Paris in 1789-94; Farewell Letters of Victims of the Guillotine,' 1902.
 * 4) 'Napoleon's British Visitors and Captives,' 1904.



ALINGTON, first. [See, 1825–1904.]

ALISON, ARCHIBALD, second baronet (1826–1907), general, born at Edinburgh on 21 Jan. 1826, was eldest son of Sir, first baronet [q. v.], the historian, by Elizabeth Glencairn, daughter of Lieut.-colonel Tytler. In 1835 Possil House, near Glasgow, became the family home. The father educated his son privately, till he went to Glasgow University. There, at the age of fifteen, he gained the first prize for an English essay on the character and times of Sulla, and reviewed Thierry's History of the Gauls' in Blackwood's Magazine.' Between Alison and his father there was always the closest intimacy. They shared the same tastes, and the son replied in 'Blackwood' (May 1850) to the criticisms in the 'Edinburgh Review' on the continuation of his father's history.

On 3 Nov. 1846 Alison was commissioned as ensign in the 72nd foot (afterwards Seaforth highlanders) and joined the depot at Nenagh. He was promoted lieutenant on 11 Sept. 1849, and joined the headquarters of the regiment in Barbados. Yellow fever was raging there, and his father had arranged for an exchange, but Alison refused to leave his regiment at such a time. He went with it to Nova Scotia in 1851, and came home with it in October 1854, having been promoted captain on 11 Nov. 1853.

After some months at Malta, the regiment went to the Crimea in May 1855, and having taken part in the expedition to Kertch, was placed in the highland brigade at the end of June. While serving with the regiment in the trenches before Sebastopol, Alison attracted the notice of Sir [q. v.], by opportunely producing a sketch plan of the trenches, which he had drawn on the inside of an envelope, as well as by his coolness under fire during the assault of 8 Sept. He was mentioned in despatches, was made brevet-major on 6 June 1856, and received the Crimean medal with clasp and the Turkish medal. On 19 Dec. 1856 he left the 72nd for an unattached majority.

When Sir Colin Campbell left England at twenty-four hours' notice on 12 July 1857 to deal with the Indian Mutiny, he took Alison with him as his military secretary, and a younger brother, Frederick, as his aide-de-camp. In the second relief of Lucknow both brothers were wounded, the elder losing his left arm. He returned to duty early in 1858, but the stump inflamed, and he was invalided home (10 March). He had been mentioned in despatches (Lond. Gaz. 16 Jan. 1858), was made brevet lieut.-colonel and C.B. (28 Feb. 1861), and received the medal with clasp. On his arrival in England he dined with Queen Victoria. When entertained by the corporation of Glasgow, he explained Sir Colin Campbell's work, and wrote on 'Lord Clyde's Campaign in India' in 'Blackwood' (Oct. 1858).

Alison was unemployed for the next four years. From 17 March 1862 to 19 Oct. 1867 he was an assistant adjutant-general, first with the inspector-general of infantry at headquarters, and three years afterwards in the south-western district. He became brevet-colonel on 17 March 1867. On 1 Oct. 1870 he was placed on the staff at Aldershot as assistant adjutant-general. At the end of 1873 he went to the west coast of Africa in command of the British brigade sent out for the Ashanti war, with the local rank of brigadier-general. He took part in