Alexander Blackwell

For other people named Alex Blackwell, see Alex Blackwell (disambiguation).

Alexander Blackwell (c.1700–1747) was a Scottish adventurer.

He was born in Aberdeen, the son of Rev Dr Thomas Blackwell principal of Marischal College in Aberdeen, and his wife Christian Johnston of Glasgow. His elder brother was Rev Thomas Blackwell.

He studied medicine, took to printing, and was thrown into prison for debt. His wife Elizabeth Blackwell supported him by writing and publishing a herbal (A Curious Herbal, published between 1737 and 1739). After his release, he went to Sweden (without his loyal wife) in 1742, was patronised by the king, convicted of conspiracy, and beheaded in 1747.

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Wood, James, ed. (1907). "Blackwell, Alexander". The Nuttall Encyclopædia. London and New York: Frederick Warne.

Further reading

• "Blackwell, Alexander" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
• Chambers, Robert; Thomson, Thomas Napier (1857). "Blackwell, Alexander and Elizabeth" . A Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen. Vol. 1. Glasgow: Blackie and Son. pp. 241–44 – via Wikisource.