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Alexander, Harold Rupert Leofric George, 1st Earl Alexander
Alexander, Harold Rupert Leofric George, 1st Earl Alexander (1891–1969). From an Anglo-Irish aristocratic family, Alexander fought throughout the First World War, imperturbably and courageously, commanding a brigade at the age of 27. In 1919 he led a Baltic-German unit against the Red Army. In 1939–40 he served in France, and, until 1942, in Britain. Then he took charge of the British retreat from Burma. In August 1942, he became commander-in-chief, Middle East, but left Montgomery a free hand with the 8th Army.
Polite, elegant, and tactful, Alexander's ‘easy smiling grace won all hearts’ (Churchill). In ground command of Anglo-American forces in Tunisia he ‘won the adulation of his American subordinates’ (Bradley) while successfully directing the capture of Tunis and 250,000 enemy troops. Soon, however, the Anglo-American campaign in Sicily exposed Alexander's inability to impose his orders on self-willed subordinates when Montgomery seized priority for his army over Patton's. In May 1944, when the break-out from the Anzio beachhead followed the allied breakthrough further south, the American general Mark Clark, out of vanity, went north to seize Rome rather than carrying out his orders to block the retreat of part of the German 10th Army. Perhaps Alexander's diffidence in enforcing his thoughts was because they came from his staff; ‘Alex’ himself had only ‘the average brain of an average English gentleman’ (Mountbatten). His style and amenability entranced civilian politicians, notably Churchill and Macmillan. On 12 December 1944 he became allied C.-in-C., Mediterranean, and field marshal, backdated to 4 June to restore his seniority over Montgomery. In 1946–52 he was the last non-Canadian governor-general of Canada, was given an earldom as Alexander of Tunis, and became minister of defence in Churchill's government until 1954. R. A. C. Parker |
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Cite this article
JOHN CANNON. "Alexander, Harold Rupert Leofric George, 1st Earl Alexander." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Alexander, Harold Rupert Leofric George, 1st Earl Alexander." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-AlxndrHrldRprtLfrcGrg1str.html JOHN CANNON. "Alexander, Harold Rupert Leofric George, 1st Earl Alexander." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-AlxndrHrldRprtLfrcGrg1str.html |
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Alexander, Harold Rupert Leofric George, 1st Earl Alexander
Alexander, Harold Rupert Leofric George, 1st Earl Alexander (1891–1969). From an Anglo‐Irish aristocratic family, Alexander fought throughout the First World War, commanding a brigade at the age of 27. In 1939–40 he served in France, and, until 1942, in Britain. Then he took charge of the British retreat from Burma. In August 1942, he became commander‐in‐chief, Middle East, but left Montgomery a free hand with the 8th Army.
Polite, elegant, and tactful, Alexander's ‘easy smiling grace won all hearts’ (Churchill). In ground command of Anglo‐American forces in Tunisia he ‘won the adulation of his American subordinates’ ( Bradley). Soon, however, the Anglo‐American campaign in Sicily exposed Alexander's inability to impose his orders on self‐willed subordinates when Montgomery seized priority for his army over Patton's. On 12 December 1944 he became allied C.‐in‐C., Mediterranean, and field marshal, backdated to restore his seniority over Montgomery. In 1946–52 he was the last non‐Canadian governor‐general of Canada, was given an earldom, and became minister of defence in Churchill's government until 1954. |
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Cite this article
JOHN CANNON. "Alexander, Harold Rupert Leofric George, 1st Earl Alexander." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Alexander, Harold Rupert Leofric George, 1st Earl Alexander." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-AlxndrHrldRprtLfrcGrg1str.html JOHN CANNON. "Alexander, Harold Rupert Leofric George, 1st Earl Alexander." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-AlxndrHrldRprtLfrcGrg1str.html |
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Montgomerie, Alexander
Montgomerie, Alexander (c.1545–c.1598), a Scottish poet, who held office in the Scottish court in 1578. He left to travel abroad in 1586, having got into trouble. His principal work is The Cherry and the Slae (1597), a long allegorical poem. He also wrote a Flyting of Montgomerie and Polwart (published 1621), sonnets, and miscellaneous poems.
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MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Montgomerie, Alexander." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Montgomerie, Alexander." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-MontgomerieAlexander.html MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Montgomerie, Alexander." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-MontgomerieAlexander.html |
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Alexander Montgomerie
Alexander Montgomerie , c.1556–c.1610, Scottish poet. His principal poem, The Cherry and the Sloe (1597), is a pedestrian and ambiguous allegory that enjoyed considerable popularity in its time. Montgomerie's other work includes a verse polemic against Home of Polwarth, 70 sonnets, and miscellaneous poems. |
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"Alexander Montgomerie." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 30 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Alexander Montgomerie." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 30, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-MntgmryA.html "Alexander Montgomerie." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-MntgmryA.html |
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