Richard Dykes Alexander facts for kids
Richard Dykes Alexander (born August 15, 1788 – died 1865) was a successful businessman and a kind person who gave a lot of money and time to help others. He lived in Ipswich, Suffolk, in England.
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His Family and Home
Richard Dykes Alexander was the son of Dykes Alexander and Hannah Brewster. His family were Quakers, a Christian group known for their peaceful beliefs and good deeds. Richard followed his father into the banking business in Ipswich.
In 1810, he married Ann Dillwyn. She was the daughter of William and Sarah Dillwyn. Richard built a special house for his family called Alexander House in Ipswich. Today, this building has been updated and is used for student apartments. Ann's sister, Lydia, married John Sims, which made their son, William Dillwyn Sims, Richard's nephew. William later became an important industrialist in the area.
His Work as a Banker
Richard started working in his father's banking business when he was just 15 years old. When he turned 21, he became a full partner in the business. Around 1830, he decided to retire from banking because of his health. After that, he spent his time helping with religious and good causes.
Even though he retired from daily banking, he still held some important business roles until he passed away. He was the chairman of the Ipswich Dock Commission, which managed the town's port. He also led the Ipswich branch of the Suffolk Alliance Fire Office and was a director for the Ipswich Water Works Company.
Helping Others and Important Causes
Richard was very active in the local Quaker community. He was also a strong supporter of the temperance movement, which encouraged people to drink less alcohol.
He was a good friend of Thomas Clarkson, who lived nearby. Both Richard and Thomas believed strongly in ending slavery. They were both part of the committee for the Peace Society, an organization that worked for peace.
In 1849, Richard started the Ipswich Ragged School. This school helped poor children get an education. He also attended the first meeting of the Ipswich and Suffolk Freehold Land Society and became its President. This group helped people buy land.
In the 1850s, when he provided land for new buildings, he made sure that some streets were named after people who fought against slavery. One of these streets was Dillwyn Street, which might have been named after his father-in-law, William, or his brother-in-law, Lewis Weston Dillwyn, who was a Member of Parliament and also against slavery.
Pioneer in Photography
Richard Dykes Alexander was also one of the first people to experiment with photography. He had help from William Cobb, who worked as his assistant and ran a photography business nearby. After Richard passed away, William Cobb sold his business. Richard's nephew, John Dillwyn Llewelyn, and niece, Mary Dillwyn, also shared his interest in photography.
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