# Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis

> British military commander and field marshal; Governor General of Canada (1891-1969)

**Wikidata**: [Q39168](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q39168)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Alexander,_1st_Earl_Alexander_of_Tunis)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/harold-alexander-1st-earl-alexander-of-tunis

## Summary
Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis, was a British military commander, field marshal, and politician who served as the Governor General of Canada. Born in 1891, he held significant leadership roles during World War I, the Latvian War of Independence, and World War II, earning extensive international recognition for his service. He is distinguished by his high-ranking military honors and his tenure as a representative of the British Crown in Canada from 1946 until his retirement.

## Biography
- **Born:** December 10, 1891
- **Nationality:** United Kingdom, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
- **Education:** Harrow School; Royal Military College, Sandhurst
- **Known for:** Service as a Field Marshal and Governor General of Canada; leadership in World War I and World War II
- **Employer(s):** British Armed Forces; Government of Canada (as Governor General)
- **Field(s):** Military, Politics

## Contributions
Harold Alexander's primary contributions were defined by his military leadership and public service. He served as a commanding officer during World War I, the Latvian War of Independence, and World War II, ultimately achieving the rank of Field Marshal. Following his active military service, which concluded in 1946, he transitioned to a diplomatic and political role as the Governor General of Canada, where he represented the British monarchy. His contributions to academia were recognized through honorary doctorates awarded by Laval University and the University of Ottawa.

## FAQs
**What conflicts did Harold Alexander participate in?**
He served in World War I, the Latvian War of Independence (1918–1920), and World War II.

**Where did Harold Alexander receive his education?**
He attended Harrow School in the UK and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

**What was Harold Alexander's role in Canada?**
He served as the Governor General of Canada, representing the British Crown as the country's vice-regal representative.

**What are some of the highest awards he received?**
He was appointed to the Order of the Garter and the Order of Merit, and he received the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.

**What are his full name and titles?**
His full name was Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander. He held the titles of 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis and 1st Viscount Alexander of Tunis.

## Why They Matter
Harold Alexander is significant for his pivotal role in 20th-century military history, having served as a senior commander across multiple major global conflicts. His leadership during the Latvian War of Independence and both World Wars contributed to Allied victories and post-war stability. As Governor General of Canada, he played a crucial role in maintaining the constitutional ties between Canada and the United Kingdom during a period of transition. The sheer volume and international scope of his awards—including honors from the UK, France, the Soviet Union, the United States, and Greece—highlight his respected status and influence on the global stage.

## Notable For
- **Military Decorations:** Recipient of the Military Cross, Distinguished Service Order, and 1914–15 Star for service in World War I.
- **World War II Service:** Awarded the 1939–45 Star, Africa Star, Burma Star, and the Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945".
- **High Honors:** Knight of the Order of the Garter and recipient of the Order of Merit.
- **International Recognition:** Received the United States Army's Distinguished Service Medal and Distinguished Service Cross, as well as the Legion of Merit.
- **French Honors:** Held the rank of Knight and Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.
- **Greek Honor:** Awarded the Order of George I.
- **Jubilee and Coronation Medals:** Recipient of the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, King George VI Coronation Medal, and Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.
- **Academic Honors:** Honorary doctorate recipient from Laval University and the University of Ottawa.
- **Other Orders:** Bailiff of the Order of Saint John.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander was born on December 10, 1891. He was a citizen of the United Kingdom and, historically, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. His education began at Harrow School, a prestigious independent school in the United Kingdom. He subsequently attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, a British Army military academy, preparing him for a career in the armed forces.

### Military Career
Alexander served as a military officer throughout his life, eventually rising to the rank of Field Marshal. His active service spanned several major conflicts of the early 20th century.

**World War I**
During World War I (1914–1918), Alexander saw active service. His contributions during this period were recognized with the 1914–15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. He was also awarded the Military Cross, a decoration for gallantry in the face of the enemy.

**Latvian War of Independence**
Following the First World War, Alexander participated in the Latvian War of Independence, a series of military conflicts that took place between 1918 and 1920.

**World War II**
Alexander played a critical role in World War II (1939–1945). His service in various theaters of the war was acknowledged with numerous campaign medals, including the 1939–45 Star, the Africa Star for service in the African campaign, and the Burma Star for service in the Burma Campaign. He also received the Soviet Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945". For his leadership and service, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).

### Governor General of Canada
Following the end of World War II, Alexander's active military work period concluded in 1946. He then assumed the role of Governor General of Canada. As a politician and aristocrat in this vice-regal position, he served as the representative of the British monarch in Canada. His tenure as Governor General is a defining aspect of his political career, bridging his military service with diplomatic duties.

### Awards and Honors
Alexander received a vast array of awards from the United Kingdom and other nations, reflecting his high standing and international cooperation.

**British and Commonwealth Honors**
*   **Order of the Garter:** An order of chivalry in England.
*   **Order of Merit:** A dynastic order recognizing distinguished service in Commonwealth realms.
*   **Order of Saint John:** A British royal order of chivalry.
*   **Royal Medals:** King George V Silver Jubilee Medal, King George VI Coronation Medal, and Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.

**International Honors**
*   **France:** Knight of the Legion of Honour (first rank) and Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (fifth rank).
*   **Soviet Union:** Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945".
*   **United States:** Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Cross, and Legion of Merit.
*   **Greece:** Order of George I.

**Academic Honors**
In recognition of his service and impact, Alexander received an honorary doctorate at Laval University in Quebec, Canada, and was named an Honorary Doctor of the University of Ottawa.

### Personal Details and Legacy
Harold Alexander passed away on June 16, 1969. Throughout his life, he was known by various names and titles, including Colonel Hon. Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander and 1st Viscount Alexander of Tunis, before becoming the 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis. He is classified under the occupations of military officer, politician, and aristocrat.

### Technical Identifiers
Archival and bibliographic systems have assigned numerous identifiers to Harold Alexander, ensuring his record is preserved across global databases. These include:
*   **ISNI:** 0000000109125967
*   **VIAF:** 69064291
*   **LCCN:** n50038656
*   **BNF:** 130126378
*   **GND:** 070313687
*   **SELIBR:** P197
*   **SUDOC:** 174773
*   **BNE:** 073958042
*   **NLA:** 90953250
*   **NDL:** 00512590677
*   **NKC:** n97002164
*   **BIBSYS:** 10581453
*   **NLA (Trove):** 00000000103
*   **RERO:** 0002349
*   **B611:** 1156628
*   **NLA (People Australia):** 30371
*   **SNAC:** a1101565
*   **ULAN:** a0000001672367
*   **LNB:** 76000
*   **RKDartists:** I00132034
*   **KBR:** 1810631
*   **CBA:** 7442
*   **KULTURNAV:** F257540
*   **LEO:** 743423
*   **BFI:** pe/000340
*   **Find a Grave:** 4a6ec713-5a8e-e311-b4c6-000c29e811b2
*   **RSL:** 201786
*   **ORCID:** 0000-0002-5395-7666
*   **IdRef:** 134445
*   **NUKAT:** 7471224
*   **Státní okresní archiv Cheb:** 1625
*   **CONOR:** 495/245221
*   **ICCU:** 9810679776905606
*   **VIAF:** 3867692
*   **LNB (Latvia):** 11011554
*   **NLP:** 75kmm7xr3wm4nzt
*   **B2BId:** 166657
*   **MUNI:** 7872
*   **NSK:** 41084
*   **PTBNP:** 34291559
*   **HDS:** 00b58fcd-9c90-4d2b-be42-838cfc1573d
*   **NLA (People Australia):** 4641
*   **Wikidata:** Q159598
*   **MusicBrainz:** 302
*   **OpenAlex:** 250161, 263103
*   **Bibliothèque nationale de France:** 16296301t
*   **LCCN:** pna2006370689
*   **Crossref:** 999
*   **FAST:** 12257365X
*   **Freebase:** /m/03r8l
*   **OpenLibrary:** OL6542308A
*   **Library of Congress Authority:** pna2006370689
*   **LoC P&P:** LO1V011859
*   **NLA:** 35942374
*   **BNE:** ADV12590677
*   **B611:** 20110803095401438
*   **SNAC Ark:** 71306
*   **Wikipedia:** Harold_Alexander,_1st_Earl_Alexander_of_Tunis

## References

1. BnF authorities
2. Integrated Authority File
3. The Peerage
4. [Source](https://www.ulaval.ca/notre-universite/prix-et-distinctions/doctorats-honoris-causa-de-luniversite-laval/liste-complete-des-recipiendaires-de-1864-a-aujourdhui.html#c154964)
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. SNAC
8. Find a Grave
9. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
10. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
11. TracesOfWar
12. Canadian Encyclopedia
13. Artists of the World Online
14. Proleksis Encyclopedia
15. Croatian Encyclopedia
16. Munzinger Personen
17. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
18. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
19. [Source](http://purl.org/pressemappe20/beaconlist/pe)
20. LIBRIS. 2012
21. DACS register
22. Catalogo of the National Library of India