William Alexander (Quaker)
William Alexander (3 January 1768, Needham Market,–2 April, York 1841) was an English Quaker, businessman, educator, bookseller, publisher and author, who wrote under the name Amicus.[1]
Early life
He was third surviving son of Dykes Alexander (senior), a Quaker elder, and Martha Biddle, a Quaker minister,[2][3] His sister was Mary Alexander, author and Quaker evangelist.[4] as well as Dykes Alexander (junior). He was educated in Wandsworth. Then in 1782 he was apprenticed to Joseph Brown (1746-1808) a miller of Luton. Then in 1786 he returned to Needham Market where he worked as a mealman.
Later life
By 1808 he was living in York. Here he was in charge of a girls' school, in Castlegate until 1810. Then he worked as a Printer, Stationer & Bookseller in York, where he started the Annual Monitor in 1811 and established Sessions of York.[5]
His wife Ann (née Tuke) wrote and campaigned on behalf of chimney-boys.
He was appointed a Director of the Friends Provident Institution. He was made a Freeman of the City of York in 1813 and served as Chamberlain of the city in 1818.[6]
Works
- 1811 Some Account of the Life and Religious Experience of Mary Alexander, Late of Needham Market, York: W. Alexander
- 1820 Remarks on temporary accommodations for holding meetings for worship; principally extracted from Observations on the construction and fitting up of Meeting Houses, &c., York: W. Alexander & Son
References
- Joseph F. Clarke (1977). Pseudonyms. BCA. p. 9.
- "Womens Autobiographies, Parts 1 and 2".
- "Alexander, William, 1768-1841, printer - Borthwick Catalogue".
- "Womens Autobiographies, Parts 1 and 2".
- "Sessions of York, printers - Borthwick Catalogue".
- "The Descendants of un-named Alexander" (PDF). Retrieved 17 March 2020.