Reginald Alexander


Reginald Gervase Alexander FLS was a British medical doctor and authority on tuberculosis. After his death, he was recognized as the 15th Baron Cobham.

Origins

Reginald Gervase Alexander was the son of Dr. William Alexander of Blackwall Lodge, Halifax, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London and Justice of the Peace for the West Riding of Yorkshire, and wife Emily Kirby, daughter of Samuel Kirby of Grove House, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, Yorkshire. He had an older brother, Arthur William Alexander, who died unmarried and without issue. His uncle Gervase Alexander married his aunt Eliza Kirby on 16 October 1838, while his aunt Ellen Alexander married John Clarke Prescott on 20 February 1839.

Life

In February 1857, he was admitted to Heath Grammar School, Halifax. In 1867, he was admitted to St John's College, Cambridge. He graduated from the University of Cambridge, with a Master of Arts degree and from the University of Edinburgh, as a Doctor of Medicine, and became a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London.
The Committee for Privileges and Conduct of the House of Lords declared on 22 July 1912 that he was one of the co-heirs of the titles of Baron Burgh and Baron Cobham , and on 11 May 1914 that he was one of the co-heirs of the title of Baron Strabolgi. He never had, however, the chance of succeeding in any of these titles, nominately to the Barony Cobham, since the attainder that had fallen on Henry Brooke, 11th Baron Cobham in 1603, though finally removed in September 1916, was only lifted after his own death.

Marriage and issue

He married on 29 May 1879 Alicia Mary Greenwood, daughter of John Greenwood of Castle Hall, Mytholmroyd, Calderdale, West Yorkshire, Yorkshire, and had four children: