Alexander Duff (British Army officer) facts for kids
General Sir Alexander Duff (born 1777 – died 21 March 1851) was an important officer in the British Army. He served during the time of the famous French leader, Napoleon Bonaparte.
Sir Alexander was the second son of Alexander Duff, who was the 3rd Earl Fife. His older brother was James Duff, the 4th Earl Fife.
Military Career
Sir Alexander Duff began his army career in 1793. He started as an ensign, which is a very junior officer. He served with the 66th Regiment of Foot.
He traveled and served in many different places around the world. These included Gibraltar, a region called Flanders, and the East Indies in 1798. He also served in Egypt under another famous officer, Sir David Baird.
In 1806, Sir Alexander Duff played a key role in the attack on Buenos Aires. He was in charge of the middle group of soldiers during this battle.
He continued to rise through the ranks in the army. In 1823, he became a colonel of the 92nd Regiment of Foot. Later, in 1831, he moved to lead the 37th Regiment of Foot. He was honored with a knighthood in 1834. Sir Alexander was promoted to the rank of full general on 28 June 1838.
Public Life and Family
Sir Alexander Duff was also involved in politics. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Elgin Burghs. He served in this role from 1826 to 1831.
From 1848 until his death, he held the position of Lord Lieutenant of Elginshire. This was a high-ranking official role in the county. He was also a deputy lieutenant for Banffshire. Sir Alexander lived at Delgatie Castle, which is located near Turriff in Aberdeenshire.
He was married to Anne Stein. Together, they had two sons and two daughters. Their sons included James Duff, 5th Earl Fife and George Skene Duff.
Sir Alexander Duff passed away in March 1851. He died at Percy Cross, in Fulham, Middlesex.
Freemasonry
Sir Alexander Duff joined Scottish Freemasonry in Lodge Holyrood House (St Luke's), No.44. He became a member on 30 November 1812.
