one source says alexander was born in scotland and baptised in the parish of methlick, aberdeen, on 16 january 1794. his death notice records that he was aged 46 in march 1847, meaning he was born around 1800. the source with the earlier date reports that he attended aberdeen university and qualified as a surgeon in march 1816. in january 1827 he enlisted as a surgeon in the british army.