James Alexander, 4th Earl of Caledon

Who was James Alexander, 4th Earl of Caledon?

James Alexander, 4th Earl of Caledon KP, DL was a soldier and politician and the son of James Du Pre Alexander, 3rd Earl of Caledon and Lady Jane Grimston, styled Viscount Alexander until 1855.

He was born at his family's home in Carlton House Terrace, London and educated Harrow and Christ Church, Oxford. He succeeded to the title Earl of Caledon at the age of nine on the death of his father in 1855.

In 1861, during his minority, an extensive but remote property at Castlederg, County Tyrone, known as the Derg Estate, was purchased through the Landed Estates Court by his guardians from a kinsman of the Alexanders, Sir Robert Ferguson. The Caledon family took an active interest in the management of their estates. The 2nd and 3rd Earls made extensive improvements to the village of Caledon, erected the flour mill in the village, gave financial support to the poor of Caledon and to schools on the estate, and improved their property by draining, liming, etc. In addition, large sums of money were spent improving and extending the 'big house' at Caledon, and on laying out the richly ornamental demesne and gardens of over 600 acres.