Alexander Macalister

Prof Alexander Macalister FRS Hon.FRSE FSA FRAI (9 April 1844 – 2 September 1919) was an Irish anatomist, Professor of Anatomy, Cambridge University, from 1883 until his death.

He was born in Dublin, the second son of Robert Macalister, secretary of the Sunday School Society of Ireland, and his wife (née Boyle).

In 1883, he succeeded Sir George Murray Humphrey in the chair of anatomy at Cambridge, and held this post for thirty-six years.

Like his cousin, Sir Donald Macalister, he was a proficient linguist, having knowledge of fourteen languages.

On 4 November 1910 the body of King Henry VI in its brick vault in St. George's Chapel, Windsor (since 12 August 1484) was "investigated", with King George V's consent, by William Henry St John Hope and Canon John Neale Dalton, in the presence of the Dean and Canons, and various other people such as M.R.

The vault was emptied of rubble, and at the centre was found a small lead chest containing the fragmented bones of "a fairly strong man, aged between 45 and 55", according to Macalister's report, published in The Times on 12 November 1910.