Diplomat and educator. He was the son of Ebenezer Alexander, a prominent Tennessee judge, and the grandson of Adam Rankin Alexander, who served in the US House of Representatives from 1823 to 1827. Eben Alexander graduated from Yale in 1873, later received a Ph.D., and became Professor of Ancient Languages at the University of North Carolina. After briefly serving as a Professor and Chairman of the Faculty at the University of Tennessee he returned to UNC to become Professor of Greek. In 1893 Alexander was was appointed US Minister to Greece, Romania and Serbia. As Minister he was involved in the revival of international amatuer athletic competitions in Greece, which became the modern Olympic Games. In 1897 he returned to the United States and resumed his University of North Carolina professorship before advancing to Dean in 1900. He died in Knoxville while on a visit to his son. The University of North Carolina's Eben Alexander Prize in Greek was created in his honor in 1887 and is still bestowed annually.
Diplomat and educator. He was the son of Ebenezer Alexander, a prominent Tennessee judge, and the grandson of Adam Rankin Alexander, who served in the US House of Representatives from 1823 to 1827. Eben Alexander graduated from Yale in 1873, later received a Ph.D., and became Professor of Ancient Languages at the University of North Carolina. After briefly serving as a Professor and Chairman of the Faculty at the University of Tennessee he returned to UNC to become Professor of Greek. In 1893 Alexander was was appointed US Minister to Greece, Romania and Serbia. As Minister he was involved in the revival of international amatuer athletic competitions in Greece, which became the modern Olympic Games. In 1897 he returned to the United States and resumed his University of North Carolina professorship before advancing to Dean in 1900. He died in Knoxville while on a visit to his son. The University of North Carolina's Eben Alexander Prize in Greek was created in his honor in 1887 and is still bestowed annually.
Bio by: Bill McKern
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
