Transcript

of

William Henry Alger [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc., vol.  44, (1912). p. 37.

by

Maxwell Adams (Ed.)

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was presented at the Association’s July 1912 Exeter meeting. An extensive obituary for Mr Alger may be accessed at Brian Moseley’s excellent Old Plymouth.UK website. The obituary, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers. 

Mr Alger died at his home, number 8 The Esplanade, on the morning of Wednesday February 21st 1912, following a year-long illness.  His funeral was held at Saint Andrew's Church on Saturday February 24th 1912.  He was survived by his widow, two out of his three sons, Mr Harold Alger, who was a director of the family business, and Mr Archibald Alger, and two daughters; Ethel, the wife of Colonel Arthur Henry Bagnold, CB, of the Royal Engineers, and Edith, the wife of Colonel Charles Cecil Daniel, of the Royal Scots.
Mr. Alger was born in Plymouth, and for many years was a conspicuous figure in the public life of his native town. For a long period he was an active member of the firm of Burnard, Lack, and Alger, manufacturers of chemicals and fertilizers at Cattedown, of which firm his father was one of the founders. Mr. Alger was Mayor of Plymouth for the two years 1885-6 and 1886-7, and during his mayoralty many useful works for the benefit of the town were inaugurated, the King of Portugal visited Plymouth and Queen Victoria's Jubilee was celebrated. Mr. Alger ungrudgingly placed his time, energy, and money at the service of the town to uphold its high traditions. He was also an earnest philanthropist and an ardent Volunteer. He joined the Association in 1887. His wife was a daughter of Alderman Wills, of Plymouth, who, with two sons and two daughters survive him.
Mr. Alger died at Plymouth, in his seventy-sixth year, on 21 February, 1912.