252 
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES. 
and others were very old members of the Society. During the time 
I lived at Scarborough I knew Phillips and Smith, who chiefly lived 
there. I might brush up some interesting events if I had time, as 
well as give you an account of my own travels in India, Holland and 
the Dominion of Canada. I am otherwise engaged just now, but 
accept my thanks for your proposal, and believe me, yours truly, 
Wm. Alexander. 
The following interesting particulars have been contributed by 
Mr. Reginald G. Alexander, M.D., son of the late Dr. W. Alexander: — 
William Alexander, M.D., of HaHfax, born September 3rd, 180G, 
was the son of Gervase Alexander, M.D., and gTandson of Dr. Robert 
Alexander, of Hopwood Hall, Halifax, and was descended from a long 
line of medical predecessors. For nearly two centuries there has 
been no member of the family out of the learned professions of Law, 
Physic, Divinity, Army and Xavy, and in the case of Dr. Robert 
Alexander occurred the singular coincidence that all the five profes- 
sions were represented by his five sons. Dr. Robert Alexander 
(grandfather to the present Dr. Alexander) married Miss Disney, of 
Pontefract, and the family of Alexander, through the Disney's, are 
lineally descended from the celebrated Sir Reginald Brage, who, 
after the battle of Bosworth Field, found the English Crown, gave it 
to Lord Stanley, who placed it upon the head of King Henry VIL, 
for which service he was created a Baron, and this Baronacy was a 
few years ago off"ered by the House of Lords to the Alexander family 
and declined. 
Dr. William Alexander was educated at the University of Edin- 
burgh, where in the year 1830 he graduated M.D., and in 1869 was 
elected (F.R.C.P) Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London. 
For nearly sixty years he has practised as physician at Halifax, and 
was connected "with the Infirmary for nearly half a century. He has 
held the post of president of the Halifax Mechanics' Institute, and 
taken a lively interest in the welfare of the working classes. The 
Literary and Philosophical Society was founded by his cousin, Mr. 
Edward Alexander, F.S.A., late registrar of the County Court, and 
also the Halifax Agricultural Society, together with a few leading 
Halifax men, all of whom are now dead. Dr. Alexander's cousin was 
