George Alexander (September 21, 1839 – August 2, 1923) was a political figure who, from 1909 to 1913, served as the 28th mayor of

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

. Born in

Glasgow, Scotland Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

in 1839, he moved with his parents to the United States at the age of 11. In 1862, during the second year of the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

, he married Annie Yeiser in

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

and participated in combat after enlisting in the Iowa volunteers. After the war, he settled in the small Iowa city of Belle Plaine, and in 1870 started his own grain and feed business. In 1887, at the age of 48, Alexander moved west to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

and expanded his grain business. By 1892, he began his governmental career in the County Recorder's office. In 1901, he was elected to the

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (LACBOS) is the five-member Board of Supervisors, governing body of Los Angeles County, California, United States. History On April 1, 1850 the citizens of Los Angeles elected a three-man Court of Se ...

and served until 1909. In 1909 he ran for mayor in an election against council member Fred C. Wheeler"Los Angeles In Quandary," ''Des Moines Evening Tribune,'' March 15, 1909, image 3
/ref> and became mayor of Los Angeles on March 26, 1909. He served until July 1, 1913."WOMEN'S VOTES GAVE VICTORY Defeat of Socialism in Los Angeles Attributed to Them. KNEW HOW TO BALLOT Aided Also in Death of Prohibition Ordinance––Alexander 31,685 Ahead." (''The Spokesman-Review'', December 7, 1911, page 1)
/ref> George Alexander died in Los Angeles in 1923, seven weeks before his 84th birthday, and is interred there in

Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery is a cemetery, located at 1831 West Washington Boulevard in the West Adams, Los Angeles, West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles, southwest of Downtown Los Angeles, Downtown. History Located in the West Adams, Los Angeles ...

References

1839 births 1923 deaths 20th-century mayors of places in California Burials at Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Mayors of Los Angeles People from Belle Plaine, Iowa People of Iowa in the American Civil War Politicians from Glasgow Scottish emigrants to the United States Union army soldiers {{AmericanCivilWar-bio-stub