Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/77

ALEXANDER.ALGER. of the New York presbytery. He published "Princeton College during the Eighteenth Century" (1872), and "History of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland." He died in New York city, Oct. 26, 1894. ALEXANDER, Stephen, astronomer, was born at Schenectady, N. Y., Sept. 1, 1806. His education was obtained at Union college and at Princeton theological seminary. After his graduation from the seminary in 1832 he was a tutor, 1833; adjunct professor of mathematics, 1834; professor of astronomy, 1840; professor of mathematics, 1845-'54, and professor of astronomy and mechanics, 1855-'78, at Princeton college. In 1860 he was the head of an expedition to the coast of Labrador to observe the solar eclipse which occurred July 18 of that year; later to observe the one of 1869. He published: "Fundamental Principles of Mathematics," "Statement and Exposition of Certain Harmonies of the Solar System," and many other noteworthy astronomical papers. He died in Princeton, N. J., July 25, 1833June 25, 1883 [sic]. ALEXANDER, William, "Lord Stirling," soldier, was born in New York city, in 1726, son of James Alexander, who claimed to be earl of Stirling. He received a good education, and gained repute for his knowledge of mathematics and astronomy. With his mother, the widow of David Provost, he engaged in the provision business left her by the death of her first husband. He also became aide-de-camp to General Shirley of the British army. In 1756 he went to England to give testimony in behalf of General Shirley, who had been charged with neglect of duty; and while there, in 1757, he entered upon an unsuccessful suit before the house of lords to gain the title and estates of Stirling. He returned to the United States in 1761, and married the daughter of Philip Livingston. Through the influence of his father-in-law he was made surveyor-general of the state, and was chosen to the provincial council. He sided with the patriots in the revolutionary war, and was made a colonel in 1775. He was largely instrumental in capturing a British armed transport, and Congress for his bravery made him a brigadier-general in 1776. His command was cut to pieces at the battle of Long Island, Aug. 26, 1776, and he was taken prisoner, but his bravery in obeying the orders of General Putnam and stubbornly opposing a vastly superior force, enabled the great body of the American troops to escape, and as soon as he was exchanged he was promoted a major-general. Upon General Lee leaving New York in December, 1776, to aid in the defence of Philadelphia, General Stirling was left in command of the city. He afterwards received the surrender of a Hessian regiment at Trenton. He distinguished himself at the battles of Germantown and Brandywine, and was defeated and lost one hundred and fifty men and two guns at Matouchin, N. J.; and at Monmouth he successfully resisted an attempt to turn his flank, but at the cost of a large number of his men. In 1779 he surprised the British at Paulus Hook, N. J., and in 1781 was transferred to the command of Albany, where he died a few days after the declaration of peace. He was one of the founders and the first governor of King's college, New York city. He wrote "The Conduct of Major-General Shirley, Briefly Stated," and "An Account of the Comet of June and July, 1770." He died at Albany, N. Y., Jan. 15, 1783. ALEXANDER, William, educator, was born near Shirleysburg, Pa., Dec. 18, 1831. He graduated from Jefferson college in 1858, and completed the Princeton theological course in 1861. He was pastor for one year at Lycoming, Pa. In 1868 he was made president of Carroll college, Wisconsin, holding the position for one year. He held pastorates at Beloit, Wis. (1864-'69), then at San Jose, Cal. (1869-'71). He was called to the presidency of the city college, San Francisco (1871-'74), and was active in founding the San Francisco theological seminary, the first Presbyterian seminary on the Pacific slope, and was its first professor in New Testament literature. In 1876 he was transferred to the chair of ecclesiastical history and church government, and afterwards became dean of the seminary. He won fame in 1881 by publishing open letters to Gen. George Stoneman on the Sunday law. In 1883 he published nine open letters to Bishop McQuaid on the "Failure of Romanism." ALEXANDER, William Cooper, lawyer, was born in Virginia, Jan. 4, 1806, second son of Archibald and Janetta (Waddel) Alexander. He was educated in Philadelphia and at Princeton college, where he was graduated in 1824. He then studied law and was admitted to the bar on arriving at his majority in 1827. He gained distinction as an advocate and orator, and took active part in political life. As lieutenant-governor of the state of New Jersey, he presided over the state senate for several years. In 1851 he was a candidate for governor, but was defeated by a few votes. He was a member of the peace congress of 1861 and presided over many of its sessions. In 1859 he helped to organize the Equitable life assurance society and was its first president, which office he held until his death, which occurred in New York city, Aug. 23, 1874. ALGER, Cyrus, iron founder, was born at West Bridgewater, Mass., Nov. 11, 1781. He is noted as the inventor of the cylinder stove, for improvement in weapons of war, and for establishing what was for many years the most extensive iron foundry in America, at South Boston, Mass. He died Feb. 4, 1856.