James Edward Alexander facts for kids
Sir James Edward Alexander (born October 16, 1803 – died April 2, 1885) was a Scottish explorer, writer, and soldier. He served as a General in the British Army and traveled to many parts of the world.
He is famous for helping to bring Cleopatra's Needle, an ancient Egyptian obelisk, to London. It stands on the Thames Embankment today.
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Early Life and Family
James Edward Alexander was born in Stirling, Scotland. He was the oldest son of Edward Alexander and Catherine Glas. His father was a banker.
He studied in Edinburgh and Glasgow. He also trained at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, which is a famous military school.
In 1837, he married Eveline Marie Mitchell. They lived in Bridge of Allan, Scotland, at a house called Westerton House. He was an elder at Logie Kirk, a local church, and walked there every Sunday.
Sir James Edward Alexander died in Ryde on the Isle of Wight. However, he was buried in Old Logie Churchyard, near his hometown of Stirling.
Military Adventures
James Edward Alexander had a long and exciting military career.
Joining the Army
In 1820, he first joined the British East India Company's army. This company had its own army to protect its trade in India. In 1825, he moved to the main British Army.
Serving Around the World
As a young officer, he traveled a lot. He was an aide-de-camp, which means he was a personal assistant to a senior officer.
- In 1826, he saw fighting during a war between Persia and Russia.
- In 1829, he was in the Balkans during a war between Russia and Turkey.
- From 1832 to 1834, he was in Portugal during a civil war called the War of the Two Brothers.
- In 1835, he took part in the Xhosa Wars in South Africa. He was an aide-de-camp to Sir Benjamin d'Urban, a British governor.
Later Military Roles
In 1838, he was made a Knight Bachelor for his good service. This means he was given the title "Sir."
From 1841, he served in Canada. During the Crimean War (1853-1856), he commanded the 14th Regiment of Foot. He was a lieutenant-colonel during the Siege of Sevastopol in 1855.
He also had an important role during the New Zealand Wars in New Zealand in 1862. He retired from active duty in 1877. On July 1, 1881, he was given the honorary rank of General.
An Amazing Explorer
Sir James Edward Alexander was not just a soldier; he was also a keen explorer.
Exploring Africa
He was one of the people who helped start the Royal Geographical Society. This group supports exploration and geography. For them, he led an expedition into Namaqualand and Damaraland in Africa. This trip lasted from September 1836 to September 1837.
During his expedition, he collected many interesting things. He found rock samples, animal furs, bird skins, and tools from the Herero and Nama tribes. He also drew maps of the region. He even made a first list of words from the Herero language.
A place called Alexander Bay in South Africa, at the mouth of the Orange River, is named after him.
Bringing Cleopatra's Needle to London
In 1877, Sir James Edward Alexander played a very important part in bringing Cleopatra's Needle to England. This ancient Egyptian obelisk is a tall, four-sided stone pillar. It was a huge task to move it all the way from Egypt to London. Thanks to his efforts, it now stands proudly on the Thames Embankment.
Books He Wrote
Sir James Edward Alexander was also a talented writer. He wrote many books about his travels and experiences:
- Travels from India to England (1827) – about his journey from India through Persia and Turkey.
- Travels through Russia and the Crimea (1830)
- Transatlantic Sketches (1833) – about his visits to North and South America and the West Indies.
- Sketches in Portugal during the Civil War of 1834 (1835)
- Narrative of a Voyage of Observation among the Colonies of Western Africa (1837) – about his travels in West Africa and a campaign in South Africa.
- Expedition of discovery into the interior of Africa (1838) – about his exploration of Namaqualand and Damaraland.
- Life of Field Marshal, His Grace the Duke of Wellington (1839–40) – a biography of a famous British general.
- L'Acadie : or Seven Years' Explorations in British America (1849) – about his time in Canada.
- Passages in the life of a soldier (1857) – about his military service.
- Salmon-Fishing in Canada by a Resident (1860)
- Incidents of the last Maori-War in New Zealand (1863)
- The Albatross : record of voyage of the "Great Britain" steam ship from Victoria to England in 1862 (1863)
- Bush Fighting (1873)
- Cleopatra's Needle, the obelisk of Alexandria (1879)
