William Alexander
Scottish businessperson, born 1602
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Quick Facts
| Intro | Scottish businessperson, born 1602 | ||||||
| Places | United Kingdom Scotland | ||||||
| was | Explorer | ||||||
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| Birth | 1602 | ||||||
| Death | 18 May 1638London, UK (aged 36 years) | ||||||
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The details
Biography
Sir William Alexander (c. 1602 – 18 May 1638) was the founder, in 1629, of the Scottish colony of Nova Scotia with the establishment of Charles Fort now the site of modern Annapolis Royal. His expedition partner, Lord Ochiltree established a short lived settlement at Baleine on Cape Breton Island. He was the son of colonizer William Alexander, 1st Earl of Stirling, but predeceased his father and never assumed his title.
It was on the site of Charles Fort that the returning French in the 1630s built their second settlement known by the name of Port Royal.
For many years the site of Alexander's settlement, known as Charles Fort or Scots Fort, was thought to be on the hillside overlooking the Habitation. This site, marked by a stone monument and brass plaque, was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1951. The plaque has been removed and relocated as the actual site of Charles Fort has been established through archaeological evidence at Annapolis Royal; lying beneath Fort Anne.