William Alexander (3 January 1768, Needham Market,–2 April, York 1841) was an English Quaker, businessman, educator, bookseller, publisher and author, who wrote under the name Amicus.[1]
He was third surviving son of Dykes Alexander (senior), a Quaker elder, and Martha Biddle, a Quaker minister,[2] [3] His sister was Mary Alexander, author and Quaker evangelist.[4] as well as Dykes Alexander (junior). He was educated in Wandsworth. Then in 1782 he was apprenticed to Joseph Brown (1746-1808) a miller of Luton. Then in 1786 he returned to Needham Market where he worked as a mealman.
By 1808 he was living in York. Here he was in charge of a girls' school, in Castlegate until 1810. Then he worked as a Printer, Stationer & Bookseller in York, where he started the Annual Monitor in 1811 and established Sessions of York.[5]
His wife Ann (née Tuke) wrote and campaigned on behalf of chimney-boys.
He was appointed a Director of the Friends Provident Institution. He was made a Freeman of the City of York in 1813 and served as Chamberlain of the city in 1818.[6]