Alexander, Robert, 1767-1841.

Farmer, politician, banker

Robert Alexander, born in Scotland in 1767, came to Kentucky in the late eighteenth century, acquired a tract of more than 2000 acres of land in Woodford County and developed it into one of the outstanding agricultural and stockbreeding enterprises in the country. His descendents still retain most of the original tract. In addition to his agricultural pursuits he served as the first president of the Bank of Kentucky, was a member of the state senate, a captain of the militia, had interests in the Kentucky River Navigation Company and in mines in Western Kentucky, conducted a survey to determine the boundaries of Kentucky and Tennessee and in his youth served as private secretary to Benjamin Franklin in France. He died in Frankfort in 1841, from injuries received in a fall.

John Savary, whose papers are also represented, was a native of France who came to America in 1783 and acquired large tracts of land in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and Kentucky. He settled in Millersburg, Kentucky, early in the nineteenth century, represented Bourbon County in the state legislature during the years 1808-1809, and wrote many political essays, some of which are among these papers. At his death in 1814, he left his estate to Robert Alexander, naming Louis Vimont, another Frenchman from Millersburg who had been associated with him in business, as his executor.

From the description of Robert Alexander papers, 1774-1849. (University of Kentucky Libraries). WorldCat record id: 12706490