Sir Claud Alexander, 1st Baronet (15 January 1831 - 23 May 1899) was a Scottish Conservative

Conservative Party (UK)

The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...

 politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1874 to 1885.

Alexander was the eldest son of Boyd Alexander and his wife Sophia Elizabeth Hobhouse, daughter of Sir Benjamin Hobhouse. He was educated at Eton College

Eton College

Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....

 and Christ Church, Oxford

Christ Church, Oxford

Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...

. In 1849, he joined the Grenadier Guards

Grenadier Guards

The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...

. He served in the Crimean War

Crimean War

The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...

 including at the Siege of Sevastapol. He was awarded the Crimean Medal and Clasp, the Turkish War Medal and the Order of the Medjidie 5th Class. He reached the rank of Colonel in 1870. He was a Justice of the Peace and Deputy Lieutenant for Ayrshire and Refrewshire.

In 1868 Alexander stood unsuccessfully for parliament at Ayrshire South. At the 1874 general election

United Kingdom general election, 1874

-Seats summary:-References:* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...

 he was elected Member of Parliament

Member of Parliament

A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...

 for Ayrshire South. He passed the "Industrial Schools Acts Amendment Act" in 1880. He held the seat until 1885. He was created baronet

Hagart-Alexander Baronets

thumb|right|Sir Claud Alexander, 2nd Baronet The Alexander, later Hagart-Alexander Baronetcy, of Ballochmyle in the County of Ayr, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 22 January 1886 for Major-General Claud Alexander, who served in the Crimean War and represented...

 in 1886.

Alexander lived at Ballochmyle House, which he extended in 1886. He died at the age of 68.

Alexander married Eliza Speirs daughter of Alexander Speirs

Alexander Speirs

Alexander Speirs was a Scottish politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1835 to 1841.Speirs was the son of Archibald Speirs and his wife Margaret Dundas, daughter of Thomas Dundas, 1st Baron Dundas....

 of Elderslie who was Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire

Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire

The Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire is the representative of the British Crown covering a lieutenancy area of the county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...

.

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