Alexander Lang Elder

Elder was the second son of George Elder of Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland, by Joanna Haddo, his wife, daughter of Alexander Lang, of Leith, born at Kirkcaldy. He was the brother of pastoralist and businessman Thomas Elder. He emigrated on his father's schooner Minerva to South Australia, arriving on 2 January 1840 in Port Adelaide as the only cabin passenger, under Captain David Reid.{{cite web|website=localwiki|series=Adelaide Hills|url=https://localwiki.org/adelaide-hills/Overseas_Arrivals_to_South_Australia_-_early_1840|title=Overseas Arrivals to South Australia - early 1840|access-date=24 July 2019}}{{ Australian Dictionary of Biography |first=Fayette |last=Gosse |id2=elder-alexander-lang-3888 |title=Elder, Alexander Lang (1815–1885) |volume=4 |year=1972 |pages=133–134 |access-date=15 November 2022}}

He founded the well-known mercantile firm of Elders Limited, later Elder, Smith & Co., of Adelaide.{{cite Australasia|Elder, Alexander Lang}} He was a partner with Frederick Dutton in a {{Convert|20000|acres|ha}} pastoral lease at Mount Remarkable in 1846.{{Australian Dictionary of Biography |first=Geoffrey |last=Dutton |title=Dutton, Francis Stacker (1818–1877) |id2=dutton-francis-stacker-2241 |year=1966 |access-date=15 November 2022}}

He married Mary Eliza Austin, a daughter of Rev. John Baptist Austin of South Australia, on 8 April 1847.

He was elected by the West Adelaide district to the first mixed franchise Legislative Council in 1851, but resigned his seat on 30 March 1853,{{Cite SA-parl |pid=4058 |name=Alexander Lang Elder |former=yes |access-date=15 November 2022}} leaving for England, where he headed of the firm of A. L. Elder & Co., of London, until his death in London on 5 September 1885.

The Elder Range, adjacent to Wilpena Pound, and its highest point, Mt Aleck, are named after Alexander Elder.[https://manning.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/pn/e/e1.htm#elderL Elder Range] The Manning Index of South Australian History, State Library of South Australia. Retrieved 2 May 2023.

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Category:1815 births

Category:1885 deaths

Category:Settlers of South Australia

Category:Members of the South Australian Legislative Council

Category:19th-century Australian politicians

Category:19th-century Australian businesspeople