Sir Claud Alexander, 1st Baronet

Wikipedia Biographical Summary

Sir Claud Alexander, 1st Baronet (15 January 1831 - 23 May 1899) was a Scottish Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1874 to 1885.

Life

Alexander was the eldest son of Boyd Alexander and his wife Sophia Elizabeth Hobhouse, daughter of Sir Benjamin Hobhouse. He was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford. In 1849, he joined the Grenadier Guards. He served in the Crimean War including at the Siege of Sevastapol. He was awarded the Crimean Medal and Clasp, the Turkish War Medal and the Order of the Medjidie 5th Class. He reached the rank of Colonel in 1870. He was a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Ayrshire and Refrewshire.

In 1868 Alexander stood unsuccessfully for parliament at Ayrshire South. At the 1874 general election he was elected Member of Parliament for Ayrshire South. He passed the "Industrial Schools Acts Amendment Act" in 1880. He held the seat until 1885. He was created a baronet in 1886.

Alexander lived at Ballochmyle House, which he extended in 1886. He died at the age of 68.

Family

Alexander married Eliza Speirs, daughter of Alexander Speirs of Elderslie who was Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire. He was succeeded as baronet by his son, also called Claud, who founded the British Cat Club in 1901.

SOURCE: Wikipedia contributors, 'Claud Alexander', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 29 October 2013, 23:06 UTC, <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Claud_Alexander&oldid=579...> [accessed 21 December 2013]
== Other References ==

• Burke, Bernard, Sir. A genealogical and heraldic history of the landed gentry of Great Britain & Ireland 6th ed. London : Harrison 1879. Vol I. page 14
• "(85) Alexander (later Hagart-Alexander) of Ballochmyle, baronets", Landed families of Britain and Ireland Blog, Nick Kingsley