Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Alexander, John (d.1743)

589209Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 01 — Alexander, John (d.1743)1885Alexander Gordon

ALEXANDER, JOHN (d. 1743), presbyterian minister, was a native of Ulster, but connected with the Scottish noble family of the Alexanders, earls of Stirling. He was educated at Glasgow, and settled in England. Wilson identifies him with the John Alexander who was pupil of Isaac Noble and congregationalist minister at Gloucester 1712–18. It is certain that he was presbyterian minister at Stratford-on-Avon, where he educated students for the ministry. He afterwards removed to Dublin, where he was installed minister of Plunket Street presbyterian congregation in November 1730. He was moderator of the general synod of Ulster, 1734, and died 1 Nov. 1743. He was an excellent linguist and patristic scholar; he published ‘The Primitive Doctrine of Christ's Divinity … in an Essay on Irenæus …’ 1727. He left two sons, John and Benjamin: the former is noticed below; the latter, who died in 1768, was a doctor of medicine, and translated J. B. Morgagni's ‘De Sedibus’ (‘The Seats and Causes of Disease, investigated by Anatomy,’ 1769).

[Funeral Sermon by Rev. Robert Macmaster, 1743; Witherow's Historical and Literary Memorials of Presbyterianism in Ireland, 1st series, 1879; Wilson's MSS. at Dr. Williams's Library; Monthly Repos. 1816, p. 93.]

A. G.