Earl Alexander of Tunis is a title in the

Peerage of the United Kingdom The Peerage of the United Kingdom is one of the five Peerages in the United Kingdom. It comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Acts of Union 1800, Acts of Union in 1801, when it replaced the ...

. It was created on 14 March 1952 for the prominent military commander

Field Marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...

Harold Alexander, 1st Viscount Alexander of Tunis. He had already been created Viscount Alexander of Tunis, of

Errigal Errigal () is a mountain near Gweedore in County Donegal, Ireland. It is the tallest peak of the Derryveagh Mountains and the tallest peak in County Donegal. Errigal is also the most southern and the highest of the mountain chain called the ...

in the

County of Donegal County Donegal ( ; ga, Contae Dhún na nGall) is a county of Ireland in the province of Ulster and in the Northern and Western Region. It is named after the town of Donegal in the south of the county. It has also been known as County Tyrconne ...

, on 1 March 1946, and was made Baron Rideau, of

Ottawa Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...

and of Castle Derg in the

County of Tyrone County Tyrone (; ) is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland. It is no longer used as an administrative division for local government but retains ...

, at the same time he was given the earldom. These titles are also in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Alexander was the third son of

James Alexander, 4th Earl of Caledon James Alexander, 4th Earl of Caledon, (11 July 1846 – 27 April 1898), styled Viscount Alexander from birth until 1855, was a soldier and politician. He was the eldest son of James Du Pre Alexander, 3rd Earl of Caledon and his wife, Lady Jane ...

. He was succeeded by his eldest son, the second and present holder of the titles. He briefly served as a

Lord-in-waiting Lords-in-waiting (male) or baronesses-in-waiting (female) are peers who hold office in the Royal Household of the sovereign of the United Kingdom. In the official Court Circular they are styled "Lord in Waiting" or "Baroness in Waiting" (without ...

(government whip in the

House of Lords The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the Bicameralism, upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by Life peer, appointment, Hereditary peer, heredity or Lords Spiritual, official function. Like the ...

) under

Edward Heath Sir Edward Richard George Heath (9 July 191617 July 2005), often known as Ted Heath, was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1970 to 1974 and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conserv ...

from January to March 1974. However, he lost his seat in the House of Lords after the passing of the

House of Lords Act 1999 The House of Lords Act 1999 (c. 34) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed the House of Lords, one of the chambers of Parliament. The Act was given Royal Assent on 11 November 1999. For centuries, the House of Lords ...

. As a male line descendant of the fourth Earl of Caledon, he is also in remainder to this peerage and its subsidiary titles.

Coat of arms

The heraldic blazon for the coat of arms of the Earldom is: ''Per pale argent and sable a chevron and in base a crescent all counterchanged, on a canton azure a harp or stringed argent''. This can be translated as: a shield divided vertically, the left half white and the right half black. In the centre a chevron and below this a crescent, both counterchanged with the colours of the background. In the top left corner a blue rectangle containing a gold harp with white strings.

Earls Alexander of Tunis (1952)

* Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis (1891–1969) * Shane William Desmond Alexander, 2nd Earl Alexander of Tunis (b. 1935) The sole person in line to succeed is the present holder's brother, the Hon. Brian James Alexander (b. 1939).

References

*Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). ''Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage'' (2003 edition). London: Pan Macmillan, 2003. * {{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander Of Tunis Earldoms in the Peerage of the United Kingdom Noble titles created in 1952 Alexander family (British aristocracy)

Coat of arms

Earls Alexander of Tunis (1952)

See also

References