Frances Elizabeth Somerville (Caldwell) Alexander (1908 - 1958)

Ancestors

Wife of Norman Stanley Alexander CBE — married 1935 in London, Greater London, England

Died 23 Oct 1958 at age 49 in Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria, British West Africa

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Biography

Elizabeth (Caldwell) Alexander is Notable.

Frances was a British geologist, academic and physicist, doing pioneering wartime work in radio astronomy as a Captain in the Naval Intelligence Service, while stationed in Singapore. She was one of the first women to work in the field of radio astronomy, albeit briefly. Her main field was geology and she published numerous papers in that area. Alexander earned her PhD from Newnham College, Cambridge. ^[1]

Frances, or Elizabeth as she was commonly called, was the first of three wives to Sir Norman Alexander.

Born 10 Dec 1908 ^[2]

Baptism 16 Jan 1908 - Merton, St Mary, Surrey, England.^[2]

Marriage 6 Aug 1907 - Parish Church, Exhall, Warwickshire, England. ^[3]

Event

Departure 3 Dec 1947 - Southampton, England. Vessel: Willem Ruys (Rotterdam Lloyd Royal Dutch Mail), destination: Singapore. ^[4]

Children Three children were born to the couple in Singapore: William Somerville Alexander 1937, Mary Harris Alexander 1939, Bernice Jones Alexander 1941. In 1942 they evacuated to New Zealand with their mother, and Singapore fell shortly thereafter. ^[1]

In 1952, Stanley and Elizabeth moved to Ibadan, Nigeria, both accepting posts at University College Ibadan. The university opened a department of geology in 1958 and appointed Dr. Elizabeth Alexander Senior Lecturer and Head of Department. Just three weeks into her new role, Alexander suffered a stroke and she died a week later on 15 October 1958 at the age of 49. ^[5]

Died 23 Oct 1958 - Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria, British West Africa; Probate: 7 Jul 1959 ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Alexander_(scientist)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Surrey, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1912
3. ↑ Warwickshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns; Warwickshire County Record Office; Warwick, England; Warwickshire Anglican Registers; Roll: ENGL 09000 44; Document Reference: DR 424/8
4. ↑ UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960
5. ↑ Orchiston, Wayne (2005). Dr Elizabeth Alexander: First Female Radio Astronomer (PDF). ISBN 978-1-4020-3723-8
6. ↑ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995

• See also Wikipedia: [Alexander]
• Wikidata: Item Q5362281, en:Wikipedia