13 Facts About Alexander Dury

Major-General Alexander Dury was a British soldier who fought in the War of the Austrian Succession.

Alexander Dury was killed whilst leading the British rearguard at the Battle of Saint Cast in Brittany at the age of 54.

Alexander Dury was a son of the Huguenot immigrants Theodore Du Ry was born on in France in 1661 and and Mary-Anne Boulier De Beauregard.

The academy was founded by Calvin and, at the time Alexander Dury was there, had the primary aim of training ministers.

Alexander Dury studied languages and belles lettres: his outstanding intellectual abilities had been acclaimed and he was admired for the brilliant exposition of his thesis 'De Terrae Motu' [On the Earthquake].

Alexander Dury's portrait was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds in 1758.

Alexander Dury's library "reflected both his wealth and his strong, continuing enthusiasm for his books on war"; some 120 titles on war accounted for more than a fifth of his collection.

Alexander Dury's father, Theodore, was a military engineer in Hugh Mackay's Foot, designing the fortification of Stirling Castle and elsewhere, and was able to afford commissions for both his sons.

Early in his career, Alexander Dury was assigned to special intelligence duties.

Alexander Dury was involved with the arrest of an even more important Jacobite, James Barry, 4th Earl of Barrymore.

Alexander Dury first took his distinguished charges to London where, incognito, they were given a tour of some of the main sights.

Alexander Dury took part in the Battle of Lauffeld in 1747, and then at the siege of Maastricht in 1748.

Alexander Dury was killed that day while trying to help his men get aboard.