#10585, Alexander Gordon DUFF

Alexander was a great grandson of the celebrated Captain Goerge Duff who perished at the Battle of Tradalgar. Great grandfather George was born in 1764 the son of James Duff (1729-1804) a solicitor and sherriff clerk of Banff, Scotland.

George never wanted anything except a career in the Navy. He was promoted Lieutant at age 16 (1780) and Captain only 10 years later. Shortly after promotion he married Sophia Dirom (1764-1827) who he had known from childhood.

In 1804 George Duff took command of The Mars and in 1905 he commanded his squadron at the Battle of Trafalgar. Hindered by changeable winds The Mars fell victim to the French ship Fougueux; the heroic Captain was hit in the chest by a cannon ball which severed his head. To his son Norwich (1792-1862), a Midshipman on The Mars fell the task of telling his mother what had happened. Two daughters also survived to adulthood; Georgina Helen (1803-1832) and Anna Margaret (1805-1827).

Alexander's parents were Edward Alexander James Duff and Amy Katherine Barnett.