Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. William Alexander (1726 New York City January 15, 1783), who claimed the disputed title of Earl of Stirling, was an American major-general during the American Revolutionary War. When the American Revolutionary War began, Stirling was made a colonel in the New Jersey militia. He outfitted the militia at his own expense and was always willing to spend his own money in support of the cause. He distinguished himself early by leading a group of volunteers in the capture of an armed British transport. Congress appointed him brigadier general in the Continental Army in March 1776. At the Battle of Long Island, in August of that year, Stirling led the 1st Maryland Regiment in repeated attacks against a superior British force at the Old Stone House near what is today named the Gowanus Canal and took heavy casualties.