Alexander, Eben, 1851-1910

Eben Alexander (1851-1910), professor of Greek at the University of North Carolina, 1886-1910; U.S. minister to Greece, Romania, and Serbia, 1893-1897.

Eben Alexander (1851-1910) was the son of Ebenezer Alexander (1805-1857), a Tennessee lawyer and judge, and Margaret White McClung Alexander. He graduated from Yale in 1873, and served at the University of Tennessee, first as professor of ancient languages and later as chairman of the faculty. In 1874, he married Marion Howard-Smith. They had four children: Eben Jr., who became a physician in Knoxville, Tenn.; John Howard who died in 1899; Eleanor Spurrier who married Andrew H. Patterson; and Margaret McClung who married Paul Schenck. In 1886, Alexander accepted the chair of Greek at the University of North Carolina, which he occupied until his death. After appointment by President Cleveland in 1893, Alexander served as minister to Greece, Serbia, and Rumania until 1897. While minister he was a leader in the revival of the Olympic games. He returned to the University of North Carolina in 1897 and in 1900, he became dean of the faculty. At UNC, he established courses in modern Greek and was influential in the movement to rehabilitate the library.