Archibald Alexander (Delaware)

Infobox Officeholder
honorific-prefix = Dr.
name = Alexander Archibald
honorific-suffix =


imagesize =
small

office =
term_start =
term_end =
predecessor =
successor =
birth_date = 1755
birth_place = Virginia
death_date = death date and age|1822|9|12|1755|7|1
death_place = New Castle County, Delaware
spouse =
party = Democratic-Republican
residence = New Castle County, Delaware
alma_mater =
occupation =
profession = physician
religion = Presbyterian Church

Archibald Alexander (1755 – September 12 1822) was an American physician and politician from New Castle County, Delaware, near New Castle. He was a veteran of the American Revolution and a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly.

Early life and family

Alexander was born in 1755 in Virginia into an Ulster-Scots family who moved to New Castle County, Delaware when he was a small boy. He attended Newark Academy, and studied medicine under Dr. Matthew Wilson. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

With the coming of the American Revolution, Alexander wanted to be the middle of the action. He first served in the state militia, but soon joined the 10th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army as a surgeon. After 2 years of fighting with them, he left the army to serve as a privateer out of Norfolk. Eventually his ship was captured and he was taken prisoner, serving out the remainder of the war in a prison ship in New York Harbor.

Career

After the war he returned to New Castle County and practiced medicine. He was also active in the Jeffersonian Democratic-Republican Party, being its first candidate for Governor of Delaware in 1795. He was able to carry heavily Presbyterian New Castle County, but lost the remainder of the state and the election to Federalist Gunning Bedford, Sr.. A wealthy man, he was known as a supporter of banks, and was a founder of the Farmers Bank in Delaware. He also led the effort to have a controversial bridge built over the Christiana River at Christiana, Delaware.

Death and legacy

Alexander died September 12 1822 in New Castle County, Delaware, and is buried at the Immanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery.

Public offices

Elections were held the first Tuesday of October. Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January. Delaware Senators had a three year term and State Representatives had a one year term.

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
-bgcolor=#cccccc! Office! Type! Location! Elected! Took Office! Left Office! notes
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
State Senator
Legislature
Dover
1791
October 20 1791
January 7 1794|
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
State Representative
Legislature
Dover
1794
January 6 1795
January 5 1796|
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
State Senator
Legislature
Dover
1796
January 3 1797
January 2 1798|
-Party shading/Anti-Jacksonian
State Senator
Legislature
Dover
1797
January 2 1798
January 6 1801|
-Party shading/Anti-Masonic
Prothonotary
Executive
New Castle|
1801
1805
New Castle
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

Election results

{|class=wikitable style="width: 94%" style="text-align: center;" align="center"
-bgcolor=#cccccc!Year!Office!!Subject!Party!Votes!%!!Opponent!Party!Votes!%
-
1795
Governor|
Party shading/Democratic-Republican |Archibald Alexander
Party shading/Democratic-Republican |Democratic-Republican
Party shading/Democratic-Republican |2,142
Party shading/Democratic-Republican |48%|
Party shading/Federalist |Gunning Bedford, Sr.
Party shading/Federalist |Federalist
Party shading/Federalist |2,352
Party shading/Federalist |52%
-
1798
U.S. Representative|
Party shading/Democratic-Republican |Archibald Alexander
Party shading/Democratic-Republican |Democratic-Republican
Party shading/Democratic-Republican |2,142
Party shading/Democratic-Republican |39%|
Party shading/Federalist |James A. Bayard
Party shading/Federalist |Federalist
Party shading/Federalist |2,792
Party shading/Federalist |61%
-
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

References

*cite book |title = Forgotten Heroes of Delaware |last= Wilson |first= Emerson. |coauthors= |work= |publisher= Deltos Publishing Company |location= Cambridge, Massachusetts |pages= |year= 1969 |id=
*cite book |title = History of Delaware 1609-1888. 2 vols. |last = Scharf |first = John Thomas |coauthors = |work = |publisher = L. J. Richards & Co |location = Philadelphia |year = 1888 |id =
*cite book |title = History of the State of Delaware |last= Conrad |first= Henry C. |coauthors= |work= |publisher= Wickersham Company |location= Lancaster, Pennsylvania |pages= |year= 1908 |id=
*cite book |title = Memoirs of the Senate |last = Martin |first = Roger A. |coauthors = |work = |publisher = |location = Newark, Delaware |year = 1995 |id =

External links

*Find a Grave [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Alexander&GSfn=Archibald&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=10&GSob=n&GRid=11377581&]
*History of Delaware 1609-1888 [http://www.accessible.com/amcnty/DE/Delaware/titlepage.htm]

Places with more information

*Historical Society of Delaware [http://www.hsd.org/] 505 Market St., Wilmington, Delaware [phone]
*University of Delaware Library [http://www.lib.udel.edu/] 181 South College Ave., Newark, Delaware [phone]