The Biographical Dictionary of America/Alexander, William (educator)

ALEXANDER, William, educator, was born near Shirleysburg, Pa., Dec. 18, 1831. He graduated from Jefferson college in 1858, and completed the Princeton theological course in 1861. He was pastor for one year at Lycoming, Pa. In 1868 he was made president of Carroll college, Wisconsin, holding the position for one year. He held pastorates at Beloit, Wis. (1864-'69), then at San Jose, Cal. (1869-'71). He was called to the presidency of the city college, San Francisco (1871-'74), and was active in founding the San Francisco theological seminary, the first Presbyterian seminary on the Pacific slope, and was its first professor in New Testament literature. In 1876 he was transferred to the chair of ecclesiastical history and church government, and afterwards became dean of the seminary. He won fame in 1881 by publishing open letters to Gen. George Stoneman on the Sunday law. In 1883 he published nine open letters to Bishop McQuaid on the "Failure of Romanism."