Sir Alexander Walker | |
Birth Name: | Alexander Walker |
Birth Date: | 10 February 1837 |
Birth Place: | Kilmarnock, Scotland |
Death Place: | Crosby Tower, Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland |
Nationality: | Scottish |
Occupation: | Master blender, industrialist |
Children: | 2 (George and Alexander) |
Parents: | John ‘Johnnie’ Walker Elizabeth Pervis |
Sir Alexander Walker (1837 – 1889) was a Scottish industrialist who was the son of John ‘Johnnie’ Walker of the whisky brand. He inherited the company in 1857 and expanded its business, exporting whisky throughout the British Empire.
Walker was born 1837, in Kilmarnock, Scotland, the son of John ‘Johnnie’ Walker.
In 1867 he registered Old Highland Whisky, one of the earliest brands to be trademarked. From that time it has had the now famous slanted black and gold label. In the late 1870s he switched to the distinctive square bottle design.
Upon his death in 1889, he left the business to his sons George Paterson Walker and Alexander Walker II.
George ran marketing and distribution through the London office. Alexander oversaw production, blending, and became an industry spokesman and whisky magnate.
Scotch Whisky: A Liquid History by Charles MacLean. ©2003 Charles MacLean & Cassell Illustrated.