William Earle

Who was William Earle?

William Earle fought in the British Army during the Crimean War and later rose to the rank of Major-General. He was born in Liverpool, the son of a merchant Sir Hardman Earle and his wife Mary, and married Mary Codrington on 21 July 1864. He had a successful military career, recognised by honours including Companion of the Order of the Bath.

He was part of the Nile Expedition attempting to relieve General Gordon at Khartoum, and was killed following the Battle of Kirbekan.

There is a bronze statue of him outside St George's Hall, Liverpool, by sculptor Charles Bell Birch. There is also a stone bust of General Earle at St Mark's Anglican Church in Alexandria, Egypt. This bust is mentioned by E M Forster in his Alexandria: A History and a Guide, and by Lawrence Durrell in his novel Justine, the first volume of The Alexandria Quartet.