Soldier. Born in Edinburgh, the eldest son of Sir Archibald Alison (1792 - 1867), the family moved to Possil House in Glasgow when Alison was thirteen. He was educated at the University of Glasgow and joined the army in 1846. In 1855, he was present at the Siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War. He served as Secretary to Sir Colin Campbell, Lord Clyde (1792 - 1863), during the Indian Mutiny of 1857, losing an arm at the relief of Lucknow. In 1873 Alison was given command of the British Brigade in West Africa during the Anglo-Ashanti wars and fought at the Battle of Amoaful. He went on to serve as Deputy Adjutant General in Ireland (1874-78) and took command of the Highland Brigade during the Battle of Tel el-Kebir in 1882 and soon found himself General Officer Commanding British Troops in Egypt, before returning home in 1883.
Alison was awarded honorary degrees by the Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh and Glasgow. He died in London but was buried in Dean Cemetery in Edinburgh.
