Alexander McBean

Colonel Alexander McBean V.D., D.L., J.P., of Tyninghame, Tettenhall, Staffordshire (born: 12 Apr 1854,[1] died: 16 Feb 1937) was a leading businessman, soldier, local Conservative politician, Freemason and Churchman in the Midlands.

He originally intended to pursue an army career but needing to abandon the idea in order to help look after his family, he joined a leading firm of Iron Merchants, where he was taken into partnership.

[1] He was prominently associated with iron & steel works in Staffordshire and other counties, and with collieries and coke production in South Wales.

For many years he was a director of blast furnaces and mines in Northamptonshire, and he was well known in the iron districts, not only of the Midlands, but Scotland, the West Coast of England and, Cleveland, Sheffield and South Wales.

[2] He was an honorary member of several Friendly Societies[2] and his name was found on a closed-up honours board in the front bar of the Stile Inn, Whitmore Reans, along with the names of several dozen Wolverhampton worthies from the late Victorian period to just after the First World War, all of whom were 'Honorary Members' of Lodge 626 of a Friendly Society.

He took active interest before and during South African Campaign period and after, and in the Great War in all associations for sailors and soldiers and their families and also for Royal Patriotic Fund.

[15] It was a result of the movement he set up with his wife during the South African war, which included efforts to find employment or ex-soldiers in pre-Labour Exchange days, that he became known as 'the Soldiers' Friend'.

[22][23] Alexander Hamilton McBean had the honour of commanding the 9th (Scottish) Division contingent from the Army of Occupation at Cologne at the great Victory Parade in Paris, on Bastille Day 14 July 1919.

[9][24] One month later, his 1st cousin Captain Russell Hamilton McBean won a DSO for his part in the daring raid on Kronstadt, the Baltic base of the Bolshevik fleet.

Their sister Esmé Lesa McBean married another well-known figure from Staffordshire, Colonel William John Beddows MC, TD, DL JP; they lived at Ardgowan, a home adjoining Tyninghame in Tettenhall, and then Ackleton House near Bridgnorth, Shropshire.

Muriel Helen McBean married Guy Louis Martin, who served as an Officer in the French army during the First World War; they lived at St. Malo, Brittany.