Norman Alexander

Sir Norman Stanley Alexander (7 October 1907 – 26 March 1997) was a New Zealand physicist instrumental in the establishment of many Commonwealth universities, including Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria, and the Universities of the West Indies, the South Pacific and Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. He was knighted in 1966.

Early life Alexander was born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand. Alexander was one of eight children of farmers whose ancestors were immigrants from the United Kingdom and Denmark.

Personal life Alexander was married to noted meteorologist Frances Elizabeth Somerville Alexander née Caldwell and have three children William (1937), Mary (1939) and Bernice (1941).

Awards and honours Alexander was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1959 Birthday Honours, and was knighted in March 1966.