Alexander Anderson of Blelack (1802–1887) was a Scottish advocate and politician who served as

Lord Provost of Aberdeen The Lord Provost of Aberdeen is the convener of the Aberdeen City local authority in Scotland. They are elected by the city council and serve not only as the chair of that body, but as a figurehead for the entire city. They are equivalent in m ...

from 1859 to 1866.

Life

He was born in

Strichen Strichen is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It sits on the A981, connecting it to New Deer to the southwest and Fraserburgh to the north-northeast, and the B9093, connecting it to New Pitsligo about due west. The village got its name ...

manse on 10 June 1802, the son of Rev Alexander Anderson, and his wife, Helen Findlay. He was educated at

Aberdeen Grammar School Aberdeen Grammar School is a state secondary school in Aberdeen, Scotland. It is one of thirteen secondary schools run by the Aberdeen City Council educational department. It is the oldest school in the city and one of the oldest grammar school ...

then studied law at

Marischal College, Aberdeen Marischal College ( ) is a large granite building on Broad Street in the centre of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland, and since 2011 has acted as the headquarters of Aberdeen City Council. However, the building was constructed for and is on long- ...

, graduating MA in 1819. In 1827 he was created an advocate. In 1830 he was operating as an advocate from 25 Marischal Street in

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

. He first joined William Adam to create the firm Adam & Anderson. He later created the legal firm of Anderson & Rae. Amongst his non-legal activities he reorganised the Aberdeen Dispensary (which later became Aberdeen Maternity Hospital) and acted as its treasurer for 32 years, and set up the Aberdeen Fire and Life Assurance company in 1836. This was renamed the Northern Assurance company in 1848. He was involved in banking and in the creation (and routing) of the

Great North of Scotland Railway The Great North of Scotland Railway (GNSR) was one of the two smallest of the five major Scottish railway companies prior to the 1923 Grouping, operating in the north-east of the country. Formed in 1845, it carried its first passengers the fro ...

(GNSR). His contribution as Lord Provost included creation of a city-wide water supply and sewerage system. He also organised the construction of the new Council buildings at Castlegate (but it was completed under the following Lord Provost) and extended the harbour. He was knighted by

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 216 days was longer than that of any previo ...

on 13 October 1863 during her visit to Aberdeen. He died at home on 11 April 1897. He is buried in the churchyard of the

Kirk of St Nicholas The Kirk of St Nicholas is a historic church located in the city centre of Aberdeen, Scotland. Up until the dissolution of the congregation on 31 December 2020, it was known as the ''"Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting"''. It is also known as ''"The Mit ...

on Union Street. The grave lies against the west boundary wall.

Family

He was married to Rachel Johnston (d.1886), daughter of William Johnston of Viewfield, Aberdeen. Their son William Alexander died in Australia in 1873 aged 37. Their son Andrew Anderson died in 1923 at the ancestral home at

. Their daughter Rachel died in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

in 1910. His daughter Catherine Anderson (1835–1918) married Archibald Charteris and was known as Catherine Charteris was a social activist.

Artistic recognition

Sir Alexander Anderson of Blelack, Provost of Aberdeen (1859 - 1865) - Sir George Reid - ABDCC001026

He was portrayed in office by Robert Clouston and

George Reid Sir George Houston Reid, (25 February 1845 – 12 September 1918) was an Australian politician who led the Reid Government as the fourth Prime Minister of Australia from 1904 to 1905, having previously been Premier of New South Wales fr ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, Alexander 1802 births 1887 deaths People from Aberdeenshire Lord Provosts of Aberdeen