Alexander Shaler (March 19, 1827 – December 28, 1911) was a Union Army general in the American Civil War.

He received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Second Battle of Fredericksburg.

After the war, he was at various times the head of the New York City Fire Department, president of the National Rifle Association, and Mayor of Ridgefield, New Jersey, from 1899 to 1901.

Shaler's brigade usually was in reserve, but units went to the front line to help in resisting Confederate attacks.

About 3:30 that afternoon, Shaler's brigade was sent to the center of the army as a reserve around the time of the repulse of Pickett's Charge.

VI Corps had been reorganized, and Shaler's brigade served in General Horatio Wright's first division.

Then it was drawn into the main line of battle, supporting its fight with LG Richard S. Ewell's corps.

After being exchanged, Shaler was transferred West where he served in the Department of the Gulf, briefly commanding third brigade, second division XIX Corps, from November 3 to December 3, 1864.

Then he served in Arkansas, where he led the second division in VII Corps, December 28, 1864 – August 1, 1865, under Major General Joseph J. Reynolds.

[2] On January 12, 1866, President of the United States Andrew Johnson nominated Shaler for appointment to the brevet rank of major general of volunteers, to rank from July 27, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 12, 1866.

He also served as President of the Soldiers' Business Messenger and Dispatch Company incorporated in 1867 which helped infirmed vets in good standing and orphans of vets lost during the war find employment as trusted messengers in New York City.

Shaler moved to Ridgefield, New Jersey, possibly to escape past disputes, though he also maintained a residence in New York City, at 126 Riverside Drive.

[7] His only son, Ira Alexander Shaler, a major in the Spanish-American War, was put in charge of building the first subway tunnel through the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan.

Major Shaler died in 1902 at age 39 two weeks after his back was broken when a subway tunnel collapsed on him.