Alfred Hindley Alexander was born on 7th April 1877 in Shepherd's Bush, London, to Samuel R Alexander and Emily Clara Alexander (née Sainsbury) who were married the previous year in Devizes, Wiltshire. He seems to have had one younger brother, Ernest. Their father was recorded as a "Commercial Travellor (Iron)", so perhaps that is the source of Alexander's interest in engineering.
In 1901 the young (23 years old) Alfred H Alexander was lodging in Northgate Street, Gloucester. In the census return he is described as "Mechanical Engineer" and "employer" and we might presume that he was then in partnership with William Douglas Webb at the Westgate Iron Works in the city.
An article in the Manchester Courier of 2nd March 1905 records the dissolution of the partnership at Westgate Iron Works, stating that William Douglas Webb will continue the business.
It was recorded in 1907 (Journal of the House of Commons, Canada) that Alfred Hindley Alexander had an interest (one share) in the North Atlantic Trading Company Ltd., along with several other people, including one Edward Sainsbury, Hotel Proprietor, who was probably his brother-in-law.
Towards the end of 1908, giving his address as Kennett House, Sutton Court Road, Chiswick, Alfred Hindley Alexander applied for a patent (No. 27663) for "An Improved Hand Shaping-Machine".
In the Mining Journal, Vol. 90, 1910, it was reported that Alfred Alexander applied for a patent: "improvements in and relating to hand drilling and boring machines".
At the time of the 1911 Census Alfred Alexander was visiting at Hucclecote, Gloucester, and described as an engineer in his "own account" (that is, effectively, self-employed).
In 1912 at Brentford, Middlesex, the marriage took place between Alfred Hindley Alexander and Florence Linda Chisnall. The couple had two daughters:- Felicity Le Noir, born 1913, who married Malcolm Houchin in 1940; and Rosamund Claire, born in 1917, who married John Ryley in 1942.
For several years until his death on 28th February 1940, Alfred Hindley Alexander lived at 33 Wellesley Road, Chiswick. Probate was granted to his wife and two daughters, the effects amounting to over £11,500 (which would be about £750,000 in 2022).
Florence Linda Alexander outlived her husband by eleven years, her death being recorded on 19th October 1951 at Brentford, Middlesex.
CRW: May 2016