Alexander Irvin was born in Penns Valley, Centre County, Pennsylvania.
He attended the public schools of the area and moved to Curwensville in 1820 and to Clearfield, Pennsylvania in 1826.
He engaged in mercantile and lumbering pursuits and was the treasurer of Clearfield County from 1828 to 1830.
He was a United States marshal for the western district of Pennsylvania from January 17 to September 3, 1850, when he resigned.
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