Dictionary of National Biography, 1927 supplement/Alexander, George
ALEXANDER, Sir GEORGE (1858–1918), actor-manager, whose original name was George Samson, the only son of William Murray Samson, a Scotch commercial traveller, by his wife, Mary Ann Hine Longman, was born at Reading 19 June 1858. He was educated at private schools at Clifton and Ealing, and at the High School, Stirling, and had some thought of studying medicine. His father, however, placed him with a London firm, Leaf & Co., drapers' warehousemen, and in 1875 he entered on a commercial career. He almost immediately became interested in theatres, and in the same year joined an amateur dramatic club. He first appeared on the stage, as an amateur, in 1875 at the old Cabinet Theatre, King's Cross, as Henri de Neuville in Plot and Passion. After four years of commercial life he finally made up his mind to become a professional actor. He obtained an engagement with Miss Ada Swanborough, and made his first professional appearance at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham, 8 September 1879, as Charles in His Last Legs and Harry Prendergast in Snowball. The same year he joined the Caste comedy company on tour, playing leading juvenile parts. He made his first professional appearance in London at the Standard Theatre, Bishopsgate, 4 April 1881, as Freddy Butterscotch in The Guv'nor. At the end of the same year he was engaged by (Sir) Henry Irving for the Lyceum Theatre, and appeared there 26 December 1881 as Caleb Deecie in a revival of Two Roses. He also appeared there as Paris in Irving's revival of Romeo and Juliet. He was next engaged for the Court Theatre, where he played in The Parvenu. He then joined Miss (Ellen) Wallis's company on tour, playing such parts as Orlando, Romeo, Benedick, Posthumus Leonatus. At a series of matinées in London at the Gaiety Theatre, February–April 1883, he played most of these parts. In June 1883 he appeared at the Adelphi Theatre in Ranks and Riches, and was next engaged by (Sir) John Hare and William Hunter Kendal for the St. James's Theatre, appearing there in Impulse, Young Folks' Ways, and other pieces. When Mary Anderson (Madame de Navarro) produced W. S. Gilbert's Comedy and Tragedy at the Lyceum, 26 January 1884, he played the part of D'Aulnay. He rejoined the St. James's company, and on 17 April 1884 appeared there as Octave in The Ironmaster. He was then re-engaged by Irving for the Lyceum, and after playing De Mauprat in Richelieu (August 1884) he accompanied Irving on his second American tour, playing the leading juvenile parts in the Lyceum repertory. Returning to London in 1885, he played several of the same parts. In Faust produced at the Lyceum on 19 December 1885, he appeared as Valentine, and shortly afterwards succeeded H. B. Conway (Henry Blenkinsopp Coulson) in the title-rôle, which he continued to play throughout the run of the play. He remained with the Lyceum company for four years as leading man, appearing as Ulric (in Werner), Claudio (in Much Ado About Nothing), Thornhill (in Olivia) and, after a further American tour, Silvio (in The Amber Heart), Macduff (in Macbeth). In September 1889 he appeared at the Adelphi Theatre in London Day by Day; and while still engaged there he entered on his career as manager. His first production was at the Avenue Theatre (1 February 1890) when he presented Dr. Bill. Six weeks later he played the leading part in this piece, and after having produced The Struggle for Life (25 September 1890) and Sunlight and Shadow (1 November 1890), in both of which he played the leading parts, he entered on his management of the St. James's Theatre (31 January 1891) which continued until the time of his death. During these twenty-seven years he produced notable plays, some of which were great artistic and financial successes. Among the more important may be mentioned The Idler by Haddon Chambers (26 February 1891) in which he played Mark Cross; Lady Windermere's Fan by Oscar Wilde (20 February 1892) in which he appeared as Lord Windermere; and Liberty Hall by R. C. Carton (3 December 1892) in which he played Mr. Owen. On 27 May 1893 he produced The Second Mrs. Tanqueray by (Sir) A. W. Pinero, which proved one of his greatest triumphs and established Mrs. Patrick Campbell as an actress of the first rank. In this play he took the comparatively unimportant part of Aubrey Tanqueray, but the production was a noteworthy achievement. Other productions were The Masqueraders by Henry Arthur Jones (April 1894); The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (February 1895); The Prisoner of Zenda by ‘Anthony Hope’ (January 1896); The Princess and the Butterfly by Pinero (March 1897); The Ambassador by ‘John Oliver Hobbes’ (June 1898); Paolo and Francesca by Stephen Phillips (March 1902); If I were King by Justin Huntly M'Carthy (August 1902); Old Heidelberg (March 1903); His House in Order by Pinero (February 1906); The Thief (November 1907); The Thunderbolt by Pinero (May 1908); Mid-Channel by Pinero (September 1909); and Bella Donna by J. B. Fagan, from Robert Hichens's novel (December 1911). Most of these were highly successful, and the St. James's was accounted one of the foremost theatres in London. In addition Alexander staged successful revivals of As You Like It (1896) and Much Ado About Nothing (1898). In September 1905 he accepted a special engagement at Drury Lane Theatre, where he appeared in (Sir) Hall Caine's play, The Prodigal Son. He twice gave private performances by royal command—at Balmoral (16 September 1895) before Queen Victoria, when Liberty Hall was performed, and at Sandringham (4 December 1908) before King Edward VII, when The Builder of Bridges by Alfred Sutro was the play selected. He also played the leading part of Alfred Evelyn in Money before the German Emperor at Drury Lane (17 May 1911). He made his last appearance at the St. James's Theatre in July 1917 in The Aristocrat by Louis N. Parker, and died after a long illness, at his home, Little Court, Chorley Wood, Hertfordshire, 16 March 1918. He was knighted in 1911, and was, in addition, a liveryman of the Turners' Company, president of the Royal General Theatrical fund, and a vice-president of several theatrical benevolent funds; he represented South St. Pancras on the London County Council from 1907 to 1913.
Alexander had a fine stage presence; he was tall, dignified, and refined. If he was never a brilliant actor, his work had always a certain distinction; and his charm of manner evoked sympathy and attention. His voice was good, though certain mannerisms made him an easy prey for the mimic. His taste in dress was regarded as above reproach. As a manager, he endeavoured to obtain the best which offered in the way of native drama, and to surround himself with the best artists available. His management of the St. James's Theatre was throughout a notable achievement. He left a fortune of over £90,000. In 1882 he married Florence Jane, daughter of Edward Théleur, but died without issue.
[The Times, 16 March 1918; Who's Who in the Theatre; correspondence; personal knowledge. Portraits, Royal Academy Pictures, 1910 and 1916.]