James S. Alexander
James Strange Alexander Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Tarrytown, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 16, 1932 (aged 67) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, executive |
| Known for | President of the National Bank of Commerce; Chairman of Guaranty Trust Company |
James Strange Alexander Jr. (January 21, 1865 – July 16, 1932) was a prominent American banker who held the presidency of the National Bank of Commerce in New York and later chaired the board of the Guaranty Trust Company.
Early life
Alexander was born in Tarrytown, New York to James Strange Alexander Sr. and Susan Coe (née Elting) Alexander. After completing his public education, he began working at age thirteen as a clerk in a general store. By sixteen, he had joined the Tarrytown National Bank and progressed to assistant cashier within three years.
Career
Beginning in 1885, Alexander entered the National Bank of Commerce in New York as a junior clerk earning ten dollars per week. Over the next fifteen years, he advanced to assistant cashier and chief clerk roles. In 1907, he briefly assumed the position of treasurer at the American Express Company, but soon returned to the bank as vice president. He was elevated to president in 1911 and became chairman of the board in 1923, with Stevenson E. Ward succeeding him as president.
After the 1929 consolidation of the National Bank of Commerce into the Guaranty Trust Company, Alexander took on the role of chairman for the merged institution before retiring on January 1, 1930.
He also led the executive committee of the National Committee on European Finance and served as an advisor for both the American section of the International Chamber of Commerce and the finance committee of the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York.
Board involvement
During World War I, Alexander contributed to the Liberty Loan Committee and acted as secretary for his Federal Reserve District. From 1926 through 1928, he was a member of the advisory committee for the Federal Reserve Board. His directorships extended to several major corporations including American Telephone and Telegraph Company, Mercantile Stores Company, Pacific Oil Company, Prudential Insurance Company of America, the Southern Pacific Company, and the Winifred Masterson Burke Relief Foundation. He participated actively in the New York Clearing House Committee from 1913 to 1916, chaired its finance committee between 1919 and 1921, and was elected its president in 1923.
Moreover, Alexander served on the board of the American Arbitration Association and maintained affiliations with cultural organizations such as the American Museum of Natural History, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Japan Society.
Personal life
Alexander was married to Anna Pomeroy (deceased 1936). Their family included two children:
- Emma Myer Alexander (1891–1973), who wed Lesley Green Sheafer (circa 1890–1956), a stockbroker associated with Jesup & Lamont in New York.
- James Strange Alexander III (1896–1985), who married Hortense Clapp Heywood in 1920.
He passed away from a heart attack on July 16, 1932, at his home located within New York City's Drake Hotel. Interment took place at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York. His estate, appraised at $1,011,135, was chiefly inherited by his son and daughter; his widow received $10,000 along with additional bequests distributed among brothers, employees, and friends.
Honors and awards
Alexander was the recipient of multiple prestigious international distinctions, such as the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour from France, the designation of Chevalier of the Crown of Italy bestowed by King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, and the rank of Knight within the Belgian Order of Leopold II.