James Alexander (1769–1848) facts for kids
James Alexander was an important person from Ireland who lived a long time ago. He worked for a big trading company called the British East India Company and later became a member of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, which is part of the UK government. He served there for two different periods between 1812 and 1832.
Who Was James Alexander?
James Alexander was born in County Londonderry, Ireland, in 1769. He grew up to have an interesting career that took him far from home and into the world of politics. He became known for his wealth and his role in the British government.
Early Life and India Adventures
When James Alexander was about 15 years old, in 1784, he joined the British East India Company. This was a very powerful British company that traded goods like spices, textiles, and tea from India and other parts of Asia. Working for the company often meant living in India.
While in India, James Alexander became a partner in a merchant bank in Calcutta. A merchant bank helps businesses with money matters, like loans and investments. His time working in India helped him earn a lot of money, making him very wealthy.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In 1818, James Alexander returned to the United Kingdom. He bought a large property in Hampshire, England. Two years later, in 1820, he and his brother, Josias, bought something called a "rotten borough."
A rotten borough was an old election district in the UK that had very few voters, sometimes even none! But it still had the right to send a representative to Parliament. This meant that a rich person could easily buy the right to choose who would represent that district. James and Josias bought the rotten borough of Old Sarum from their cousin, the 2nd Earl of Caledon.
Their cousin had actually been helping James get into Parliament since 1812. He had also helped another brother, Henry, get into Parliament earlier. Thanks to this system, James Alexander was able to serve as a Member of Parliament for many years, from 1812 to 1832.
