was born March 10, 1845. He succeeded to the throne in 1881. He showed vigor in government and ability in repressing the Nihilists (see the latter), who made several attempts on his life, and who assassinated his father, Alexander II. The harsh laws against the Jews and the severe famine (1892), are among the later events of his reign. In 1866 he married Princess Dagmar of Denmark (sister of Alexander queen of England), whose son, Nicholas II, succeeded Alexander III on the throne. He died November 1, 1894.
Alexander, the name of eight popes. Alexander VI has been called the worst of the popes, because the crimes of his son, Caesar Borgia, were attributed to him. He was a profligate, but an able statesman and did much to advance the cause of the papacy. He was born in 1431, and died in 1503. See Borgia, Caesar.
Alexander, W. J., born at Hamilton, Ontario. Educated at Hamilton Collegiate Institute. Matriculated University of Toronto with double scholarship, 1873. Canadian Gilchrist Scholar, 1874. Student of University College, London, England, 1874-7. B.A. University of London. Teacher in Prince of Wales College, Charlottetown, P.E.I., 1877-9. Graduate Student, Scholar and Fellow of Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 1879-1883. Ph.D., 1883. Graduate student in Germany, 1883-4. Professor of English Literature, Dalhousie College, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1884-89. Professor of English, University College, Toronto, 1889—present time. He has written various books, Introduction to the Poetry of Robert Browning; Select Poems of Shelley; and various articles in learned periodicals.
Alexan'dra, Queen, consort of the late Edward VII of England, long known as Princess of Wales, daughter of the late Christian IX, of Denmark, was born at Copenhagen, December 1, 1844. On March 10,1863, she was married at Windsor to Albert Edward (then Prince of Wales), eldest son of Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort. She has had six children, four of whom survive.
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Her majesty is widely loved and admired; she is a fine musician, eagerly interested in philanthropic works and devoted, to her family life of which she is the center and inspiration.
Alexan'dria, a city of Egypt, founded by Alexander the Great, 332 B. C. Its site is near one of the mouths of the Nile, between the Mediterranean and Lake Mareotis. About a mile out in the sea is the island of Pharos, connected with the land by an enormous mole, on which Ptolemy built the famous lighthouse, 400 feet high, which was called one of the wonders of the world. He ordered as inscription on the lighthouse, the words: " King Ptolemy to the Gods, the Saviours, for the Benefit of Sailors." But the architect, Sostrates, put another inscription on the wall, covering it with mortar on which he wrote the words of the king. In later years the mortar fell off, and the hidden inscription appeared: "Sostrates, the Cnidian, son of Dexiphanes, to the Gods, the Saviours, for the Benefit of Sailors." The city was laid out in squares, with the tomb of Alexander the Great in the center. It was divided into the quarters of the Jews, of the Egyptians and of the Greeks. In the latter were most of the beautiful buildings for which the city was famous, the palace of the Ptolemies, the greatest of the libraries of ancient times, the museum, the court of justice and the temple of the Caesars. This temple Julius Caesar adorned with the two "Cleopatra's needles," which he brought from Heliopolis, and which have been given to England (1877) and to America (1880). Alexandria has been a great center of trade at different times in its history. The rise of Constantinople and the discovery of the passage to India by the Cape of Good Hope took away its importance; but the opening of the Suez canal has renewed its prosperity, and it is now growing rapidly. The city fell at various times under the power of the Romans, the Persians, the Arabs and the Turks. It was largely rebuilt under Mehemet Ali (who reigned from 1811 to 1848). In 1882 it was bombarded and held for a time by the English. It is now under English government. The modern city is built on the ancient mole. The population is 332,246, made up of a large number of nationalities.
Alexandria, Ind., a growing city in Madison County, situated about 50 miles northeast of Indianapolis on two lines of railway and having trolley connection with all principal towns and cities in Indiana and Ohio. With the discovery of natural gas in 1889 its growth for a few years was remarkable. On the failure of gas it lost many industries but since 1908 has enjoyed a healthy growth. Its manufactures include glass, mineral wool, wire and paper mill products. The city owns and operates its own waterworks. Population (1910), 5,200.
Alexandria, Va., a town, port of entry and railroad. center, in, Alexandria County,
