{{Short description|American banker (1865–1932)}} {{Infobox person | name = James S. Alexander | image = James S. Alexander - LOC 22980570159 (cropped).jpg | caption = Alexander in 1917 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1865|1|21}} | birth_place = Tarrytown, New York | death_date = {{death date and age|1932|7|16|1865|1|21}} | death_place = New York City | occupation = banker | education = | nationality = | movement = | spouse = Anna Pomeroy | children = Emma Myer Alexander & James Strange Alexander III }}

'''James Strange Alexander Jr.''' (February 21, 1865 – July 16, 1932)<ref name="JSAObit1932"/> was an American banker from New York who served as president of the National Bank of Commerce in New York and chairman of the board of the Guaranty Trust Company.

==Early life== Alexander was born on February 21, 1865, in Tarrytown, New York. He was a son of James Strange Alexander Sr. (1814–1889) and Susan Coe (née Elting) Alexander (1835–1902). Among his siblings was brothers Frank William Alexander and Charles Elting Alexander.<ref name="JSAObit1932"/>

After receiving a public school education in Tarrytown, he took a position as a clerk in a general store at age thirteen. At age sixteen, he took a position as clerk in the Tarrytown National Bank. Within three years, he was assistant to the cashier of the bank.<ref name="JSAObit1932"/>

==Career== In 1885, Alexander became a junior clerk at the National Bank of Commerce in New York at a salary of $10 a week. He remained with the bank for fifteen years, advancing to assistant cashier and chief clerk. In 1907, he left to become treasurer of the American Express Company. The National Bank of Commerce, however, lured him back in less than a year making him vice president. Three years later in 1911, he was made president of the bank.<ref name="1911President">{{cite news |title=NEW COMMERCE BANK HEAD.; James S. Alexander Promoted to Presidency to Succeed V.P. Snyder. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1911/09/07/archives/new-commerce-bank-head-james-s-alexander-promoted-to-presidency-to.html |access-date=24 June 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=September 7, 1911}}</ref> In 1923, Alexander became chairman of the board of directors,<ref>{{cite news |title=NEW POST CREATED FOR J.S. ALEXANDER; He Is Made Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Commerce. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1923/06/01/archives/new-post-created-for-js-alexander-he-is-made-chairman-of-the-board.html |access-date=24 June 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=June 1, 1923}}</ref> and Stevenson E. Ward became president.<ref name="Alexander1925">{{cite book |last1=Alexander |first1=James Strange |title=National Bank of Commerce in New York: Address by James S. Alexander, at Annual Meeting of the Shareholders January 13, 1925 |date=1925 |publisher=National Bank of Commerce in New York |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nIfZAAAAMAAJ |access-date=24 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="SEWObit1950">{{cite news |last1=TIMES |first1=Special to THE NEW YORK |title=EX-BANKER ENDS LIFE IN BRONXVILLE HOME |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1950/06/17/archives/exbanker-ends-life-in-bronxville-home.html |access-date=24 June 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=June 17, 1950}}</ref> In 1929, when the bank merged into the Guaranty Trust Company, he became chairman of the board of the combined entity.<ref name="1929Merger">{{cite news |title=$2,000,000,000 BANK, LARGEST IN COUNTRY, FORMED BY MERGER; Guaranty Trust and National Bank of Commerce Near End of Huge Transaction. NATIONAL CITY OUTRANKED Myron Taylor, Steel Executive, Is Credited With Being the Dominant Figure in Deal. STATEMENT READY MONDAY Skyscraper on Present Sites to House Both Is Reported Planned-- Share-for-share Exchange Seen. Resources of the Banks. Merger Regarded as Logical. Gained Prominence in Steel. Grew Largely Without Mergers. Alexander Power in Expansion |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1929/02/22/archives/2000000000-bank-largest-incountry-formed-by-merger-guaranty-trust.html |access-date=24 June 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=February 22, 1929}}</ref> Alexander retired as chairman of the board on January 1, 1930.<ref name="1929Resignation">{{cite news |title=J.S. ALEXANDER QUITS GUARANTY TRUST; Ex-Head of Bank of Commerce to Retire as Chairman of Merged Institutions Jan. 1. HAD DISTINGUISHED CAREER Active in Financial Circles for 30 Years, He Was Cited by Three Nations for War Services. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1929/12/19/archives/js-alexander-quits-guaranty-trust-exhead-of-bank-of-commerce-to.html |access-date=24 June 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=December 19, 1929 |pages=42}}</ref>

Alexander was chairman of the executive committee of the National Committee on European Finance, a member of the advisory committee of the American section of the International Chamber of Commerce and a member of the committee on finance and currency of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York.<ref name="JSAObit1932"/>

===Board involvement=== During World War I, he was a member of the Liberty Loan Committee and secretary of the Federal Reserve District. From 1926 to 1928, he was a member of the advisory committee of the Federal Reserve Board. He also served as a director of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, the Mercantile Stores Company, Pacific Oil Company, Prudential Insurance Company of America, the Southern Pacific Company and the Winifred Masterson Burke Relief Foundation. He was a member of the New York Clearing House Committee from 1913 to 1916, chairman of the committee on finance from 1919 to 1921, ultimately being elected president in 1923.<ref name="1923Presidentcy">{{cite news |title=OFFICERS ELECTED BY CLEARING HOUSE; James S. Alexander Is Chosen President and William Woodward Chairman. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1923/10/03/archives/officers-elected-by-clearing-house-james-s-alexander-is-chosen.html |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=October 3, 1923}}</ref>

He was a director of the American Arbitration Association and a member of the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Japan Society.<ref name="JSAObit1932"/>

==Personal life== thumb|right|Portrait of his daughter, Emma, by Hoëy, 1925. Alexander was married to Anna Pomeroy (d. 1936).<ref name="1936Obit">{{cite news |title=Resident's Mother Dies |url=https://news.hrvh.org/veridian/?a=d&d=scarsdaleinquire19360515.2.138&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------- |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=Scarsdale Inquirer |volume=XVIII|issue=15 |date=15 May 1936}}</ref> Together, they were the parents of:<ref name="JSAObit1932"/>

* Emma Myer Alexander (1891–1973),<ref name="Glueck175">{{cite news |last1=Glueck |first1=Grace |title=$7.3-Million Gift Surprises Met Museum |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/02/archives/73million-gift-surprises-met-museum.html |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=April 2, 1975}}</ref> who married Lesley Green Sheafer ({{Circa|1890}}–1956),<ref name="Munger2018">{{cite book |last1=Munger |first1=Jeffrey |last2=Sullivan |first2=Elizabeth |title=European Porcelain in The Metropolitan Museum of Art |date=2018 |publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art |isbn=978-1-58839-643-3 |page=11 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YAxZDwAAQBAJ |access-date=29 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="LGSObit1956">{{cite news |title=LESLEY G. SHAEFER |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1956/04/16/archives/obituary-2-no-title.html |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=April 16, 1956}}</ref> a New York stockbroker with Jesup & Lamont.<ref name="Kisluk-Grosheide2006">{{cite book |last1=Kisluk-Grosheide |first1=Daniëlle O. |last2=Koeppe |first2=Wolfram |last3=Rieder |first3=William |title=European Furniture in The Metropolitan Museum of Art: Highlights of the Collection |date=2006 |publisher=Metropolitan Museum of Art |isbn=978-0-300-10484-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=saXCCQAAQBAJ |access-date=29 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="1914Wedding">{{cite news |title=MISS ALEXANDER WEDS L. G. SHEAFER; Daughter, of Mr. and Mrs. Jas. S. Alexander Married in St. Luke's Church, Montclair. SEVEN ATTEND THE BRIDE Bridal Pair, Under Arbor of Roses, Receive Congratulations at Reception;- Many New York Guests. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1914/10/08/archives/miss-alexander-weds-l-g-sheafer-daughter-of-mr-and-mrs-jas-s.html |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=October 8, 1914}}</ref> * James Strange Alexander III (1896–1985), who married Hortense Clapp Heywood (1896–1987), a daughter of Edith Clapp and Lincoln Heywood, in 1920.<ref name="1920Wedding">{{cite news |title=MAJOR CECIL SINGER WEDS MISS GROVES; Relatives Only at Ceremony in St. Patrick's Cathedral Performed by Rev. C.E. Gilmartin. MISS REID WEDS A. HEALY James S. Alexander, Jr., Banker's Son, Marries Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Howard Hull. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1920/04/29/archives/major-cecil-singer-weds-miss-groves-relatives-only-at-ceremony-in-s.html |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=April 29, 1920}}</ref>

Alexander died of a heart attack on July 16, 1932, at his home, the Drake Hotel at 440 Park Avenue in New York City.<ref name="JSAObit1932">{{cite news |title=J.S. ALEXANDER, BANKER, DIES AT 67; Retired Chairman of Guaranty Trust Co. Became Ill Last Sunday. HONORED BY THREE NATIONS Began as a General Store Clerk and Worked Way Up to Become a Leader in Many Industries. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1932/07/17/archives/js-alexander-banker-dies-at-67-retired-chairman-of-guaranty-trust.html |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=July 17, 1932 |page=21}}</ref> He was buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York. His estate was left to his family with two-fifths going to his son, two-fifths going to his daughter, $10,000 going to his widow, who was then living at 139 East 79th Street and several bequests to his brothers, employees and friends.<ref name="1932Estate">{{cite news |title=ALEXANDER ESTATE LEFT TO HIS FAMILY; Banker's Son and Daughter Share Four-fifths of the Resi- due -- Widow Gets $10,000. 2 BROTHERS DIVIDE $50,000 Dr. Terrlberry Bequeathed All to His Wife -- M.H. Frohman Set Up Fund for Dog's Grave. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1932/08/17/archives/alexander-estate-left-to-his-family-bankers-son-and-daughter-share.html |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=August 17, 1932}}</ref> The net value of the estate was $1,011,135.<ref name="1933Estate">{{cite news |title=$1,011,135 IN ESTATE OF J.S. ALEXANDER; Children and Grandchildren of Telephone Official to Get Bulk of It. MRS. PRATT'S WILL FOUGHT Sister of Isaac Singer's Daughter Contends She Was Incapable of Drawing Legal Document. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1933/06/24/archives/1011135-in-estate-of-js-alexander-children-and-grandchildren-of.html |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=June 24, 1933}}</ref>

===Honors and awards=== Alexander was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour of France, a Chevalier of the Crown of Italy by King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy,<ref name="ItalyHonors">{{cite news |title=ITALY HONORS BANKER.; Cross of Chevalier of Crown Awarded to James S. Alexander. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1920/06/24/archives/italy-honors-banker-cross-of-chevalier-of-crown-awarded-to-james-s.html |access-date=29 June 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=June 24, 1920}}</ref> and a Knight of the Belgian Order of Leopold II.<ref name="JSAObit1932"/>

==References== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== *{{commons category-inline}} *{{find a Grave|62189766}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, James S.}} Category:1865 births Category:1932 deaths

Category:Bankers from New York City Category:Knights of the Legion of Honour Category:Knights of the Order of Leopold II Category:Burials at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery Category:Businesspeople from Manhattan Category:American bank presidents Category:American corporate directors Category:People from Tarrytown, New York Category:Businesspeople awarded knighthoods