Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 01.djvu/76

ALEXANDER.ALEXANDER. the presbytery of New Brunswick, N. J. For three years following he was pastor in Charlotte county, Va. From 1828-'32 he had charge of the first Presbyterian church in Trenton, N. J. He gave up preaching on account of failing health, and took charge of the Presbyterian, of Philadelphia, as editor. From 1833 to 1844, he was professor of belles-lettres and rhetoric at Princeton college, and for the next five years he served the congregation of the Duane street Presbyterian church of New York city. At the end of his pastorate he returned to Princeton, to take the chair of ecclesiastical history and church government in the theological seminary. In 1851 he returned to New York to accept a call to the Fifth avenue Presbyterian church, where he exerted a great power in the pulpit and with his pen. In preaching and writing he aimed at being practical rather than scholarly, and in the pulpit was intensely spiritual. He wrote many translations of popular German hymns; one of which found its way into many hymn books: Gerhardt's passion hymn, "O Sacred Head now Wounded." His published works include: "Consolation," "Family Worship," "Plain Words to a Young Communicant," "Discourses on Christian Faith and Practice," "Gift to the Afflicted," "A Biography of Dr. Archibald Alexander," and over thirty volumes prepared for the American Sunday school union. He contributed to the Princeton Review and the Biblical Repertory. Rev. Dr. John Hall published in 1880, in two volumes, "Forty Years' Familiar Letters of James W. Alexander." He died at Red Sweet Springs, Va., July 31, 1859. ALEXANDER, John Henry, scientist, was born in Annapolis, Md., June 26, 1812. His education was acquired in his native city, and he was graduated from St. John's college in 1826. He then studied law, but did not practise, devoting himself to scientific investigation and study. As topographical engineer of Maryland, to which office he was appointed in 1834, he made a survey of the state in connection with the geological survey, and prepared the annual reports until 1841. These reports prompted the opening of valuable coal and iron mines. He was an authority on standards of weight and measure, and was associated with Superintendents Hassler and Bache of the coast survey. He went to England in 1857 as delegate from the United States government to the British commission on decimal coinage. His research in this field recommended him as director of the U. S. mint, which appointment was prevented by his death. He served as professor of physics in the University of Maryland, St. John's college and the University of Pennsylvania. He was one of the incorporators of the national academy of science, and a member of the chief scientific societies of America. He published, beside valuable scientific papers, "History of Metallurgy of Iron" (1840-'42); "Universal Dictionary of Weights and Measures, Ancient and Modern" (1850). He left unpublished manuscript for "A Dictionary of English Surnames" (12 vols. 8 vo). William Pinkney wrote his life published in 1867, and J. E. Hilgard, a memoir published in Vol. I. of "Biographical Memoirs" of the national academy of science. Professor Alexander died in Baltimore, March 2, 1867. ALEXANDER, Joseph Addison, clergyman, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., April 24, 1809, son of Archibald and Janetta Waddel Alexander. He was graduated at Princeton college with the first honor, in the class of 1826. He thereupon, in connection with Robert Bridges Patton, established Edgehill seminary at Princeton. In 1830 he was made adjunct professor of ancient languages in Princeton college, holding the professorship until 1833, when he went abroad to study languages, and upon his return in 1838 he was called to the chair of Oriental literature in the theological seminary, and in 1852 was elected to the professorship of biblical and ecclesiastical history in the same institution, his connection with the seminary being terminated by his death. He was distinguished in Oriental scholarship as well as in biblical learning, and was a thorough master of the modern European languages. He wrote during 1846-'47 commentaries on Isaiah, embracing "The Earlier Prophecies," "The Later Prophecies," and the book "Illustrated and Explained"; and in 1850 "The Psalms Translated and Explained." In 1857 appeared "Commentary on Acts," in 1858 "Commentary on Mark," and in 1851 "Essays on the Primitive Church Offices." After his death there appeared in 1860 his "Sermons," and in 1861 "Commentary on Matthew," and "Notes on New Testament Literature." Henry Carrington Alexander prepared a biography published in 1869. He died in Princeton, N. J., Jan. 28, 1860. ALEXANDER, Samuel Davies, clergyman, was born at Princeton, N. J., May 3, 1819, son of Archibald Alexander, clergyman. He was graduated from Princeton college in the class of 1838, and then entered the theological seminary, being ordained to the Presbyterian ministry in 1847. The following year he took pastoral charge of the Port Richmond Presbyterian church in Philadelphia, Pa., remaining there two years, and removing at the end of that time to Freehold, N. J., where he preached five years. In 1855 he accepted a call to the Phillips Presbyterian church in New York city, and successfully discharged the duties of his position until 1893. Washington college conferred on him the degree of S.T.D. in 1862. During the last year of his life he acted as clerk