George William Alexander

Biography Alexander was born in London. He was the eldest of nine children in an upwardly mobile Quaker family. When he was aged fourteen his father died, and Alexander had to work hard to continue his education and assist his mother, Ann Alexander, who had taken on the leadership of the bill-broking company, Alexander and Co. She ran the company and changed its name to A. M. Alexander. In 1823, when George became an adult, he became a partner in his mother's business and the name became A. and G. W. Alexander. He was still a minority shareholder and it was only in 1828 that he and his mother divided the profits equally. This continued until 1831 when his mother's share reduced as new partners were brought into the business.

There nevertheless remained a need for a society that could continue to campaign for anti-slavery worldwide, and the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society was accordingly founded in 1839. One of its first significant deeds was to organise the World Anti-Slavery Convention in 1840:

"The Convention assembled in London at the Free-mason's Hall, on Friday, 12 June. Our expectations, we confess, were high, and the reality did not disappoint them." A very large and detailed picture of the proceedings was commissioned that today is in the National Portrait Gallery. This very large picture shows Alexander as treasurer of the new Society. The picture captures the meeting in 1840, but it was not complete until 1841. In 1846, Alexander attended another World convention in London. This time the subject was temperance.

His growing wealth enabled him to have his house rebuilt by 1870; the building later became known as Kennaway House.

Alexander's company is the longest surviving discount house in the UK and was still extant in 1995, as Alexanders Discount plc.