The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Elder, Alexander Lang
Elder, Alexander Lang, second son of George Elder of Kirkcaldy, Scotland, by Joanna Haddo, his wife, daughter of Alexander Lang, of Leith, N.B., and brother of Sir Thomas Elder (q.v.), was born at Kirkcaldy in April 1815, and emigrated to South Australia in 1839, where he founded the well-known mercantile firm of Elder & Co., now Elder, Smith & Co., of Adelaide. In 1853 he went to reside in England, and was head of the firm of A. L. Elder & Co., of London, until his death. Prior to his leaving South Australia, he was member for West Adelaide in the mixed Legislative Council inaugurated in 1851, but resigned his seat on March 30th, 1853. He married a daughter of the late Rev. John Baptist Austin, of South Australia. He died in London on Sept. 5th, 1885.