Archibald Alexander, D. D., an American Presbyterian divine, born in Augusta county (now Rockbridge), Va., April 17, 1772, died in Princeton, N. J., Oct. 22, 1851. His grandfather, Archibald Alexander, was of Scotch descent, though an emigrant from Ireland, whence he came to Pennsylvania in 1736, and, after a residence there of about two years, removed to Virginia. His son William, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a farmer and trader. At the age of 10 years Archibald was sent to the academy of the Rev. William Graham, at Timber Ridge meeting house, and at the age of 17 he became tutor in the family of Gen. John Posey, of the Wilderness, twelve miles west of Fredericksburg. He remained there but one year, and in 1789 he returned home and resumed his studies with Mr. Graham. At this time his mind became influenced by the remarkable religious movement which is yet spoken of as "the great revival," and he turned his attention to divinity. He was licensed at Winchester, Oct. 1, 1791, and spent some years in itinerant missionary service in different parts of his native state.

In 1789 he succeeded Dr. John Blair Smith as president of Hampden Sidney college, but in 1801 resigned, and made a journey to New York and New England. While on his way to the north he visited the Rev. Dr. Waddel, the celebrated "blind preacher " mentioned by Mr. Wirt in the "British Spy," and contracted a matrimonial engagement with his daughter, Janetta, whom he married on his return in 1802. He then resumed his former position at Hampden Sidney college, but owing to insubordination among the students he accepted a call from the Pine street church in Philadelphia, where he was installed pastor May 30, 1807. The degree of D. D. was conferred upon him by the college of New Jersey in 1810, and in the same year he was elected president of Union college in Georgia, a tact which remained unknown even by his family until after his death. The theological seminary at Princeton was established by the general assembly of the Presbyterian church in 1811, and Dr. Alexander was by common consent elected as its first theological professor, winch position he sustained until his death.

He published "Outlines of the Evidences of Christianity," which has passed through numerous editions in various languages, and is recognized as a text book in several colleges; "Treatise on the Canon of the Old and New Testament" (1826); "History of the Patriarchs" (1833); "Essays on Religious Experience" (1840); "History of African Colonization" (1846); "History of the Log College" (1840); and a "History of the Israel-itish Nation " (1852). His work on " Moral Science " was published after his death; and among his unfinished works are one on the "Duties and Consolations of the Christian"; one on "Patriarchal Theology"; a memoir of his old instructor, Mr. Graham; a history of the Presbyterian church in Virginia; biographical sketches of distinguished American clergymen and alumni of the college of New Jersey; and a work on "Church Polity and Discipline."