Alexander Montgomery

Who was Alexander Montgomery?

Colonel Alexander John Montgomery was an Irish politician.

He was born in 1720, the eldest son of Thomas Montgomery, M.P. for Lifford, and his wife Mary Franklin. His youngest brother was the famous American Revolution war-hero, Major-General Richard Montgomery.

He was elected Member of Parliament as an Independent for County Donegal in the General Election of 1768 and represented that constituency until August 1800. He was also High Sheriff of Donegal in 1773.

He had two nicknames. He was first called "Black Montgomery" because of a scalping incident in the Seven Years' War in Canada and later in life he was called "Old Sandy" to distinguish him from his cousin Alexander Montgomery who was a year younger and who represented County Monaghan in the Irish Parliament at the same time as Old Sandy.

He was a captain in the British Army's 43rd Regiment of Foot, which served in America. His regiment was part of General James Wolfe's attack on French Quebec in 1759. Lieutenant Malcolm Fraser of the 48th Regiment of Foot assserted that on 23 August 1759, his detachment was brought under the command of Alexander Montgomery for an attack on a village near Saint-Joachim.