William Alexander, usually called Lord Stirling, combined commerce, landholding, and surveying before becoming a Continental general. He worked in his family's provisioning business, served with William Shirley during the French and Indian War, and became surveyor general for New Jersey. His unsuccessful attempt to secure recognition of a Scottish earldom did not prevent him from using the title by which contemporaries commonly knew him.

Alexander supported the revolutionary cause and helped raise and equip troops. At the Battle of Long Island in August 1776, he commanded on the American right and led repeated attacks against British forces near the Gowanus crossing. His resistance helped other troops escape, but he was captured. Exchanged later that year, he returned to command and became a major general in February 1777. He subsequently led divisions at Brandywine and Germantown and served in the Monmouth campaign.

Washington trusted Stirling with important commands and military councils. Stirling also passed on information that helped expose the political maneuvering associated with the Conway Cabal. Later in the war he commanded in the Hudson region and the Northern Department, dealing with defense, supply, and the threat of British operations from Canada. He died at Albany in January 1783 before the peace was finalized. His service extended beyond Long Island to years of divisional command and the administrative work required to keep an army in the field.