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 ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, 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 or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same 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 ...

, he married Annie Yeiser in

Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to th ...

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 ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

and expanded his grain business. By 1892, he began his governmental career in the

County Recorder Recorder of deeds or deeds registry is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over ...

'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 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 Sessions as their firs ...

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 seven weeks before his 84th birthday and is interred there in

Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery is a cemetery in Los Angeles at 1831 West Washington Boulevard in the Pico-Union district, southwest of Downtown. It was founded as Rosedale Cemetery in 1884, when Los Angeles had a population of approximately 28,000, o ...

References

Mayors of Los Angeles Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Union Army soldiers 1839 births 1923 deaths Burials at Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery Politicians from Glasgow People from Belle Plaine, Iowa Scottish emigrants to the United States {{AmericanCivilWar-bio-stub