Alexander Whitelaw (1823–1879) was a Scottish ironmaster, philanthropist[1] and Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Glasgow from 1874 until his death.

Whitelaw was born in 1823 in Drumpark in Monklands and was educated at Grange School, Sunderland and then took some time to study mining.

[2] In 1846 he married Barbara Forbes Lockhart of Cambusnethan which established a marital connection to the Baird family.

[5] Whitelaw's interest in education led him to become Chairman of the Glasgow School Board in 1873.

One cartoon shows him having administered a thrashing to John Page Hopps, a fellow Board member with whom he had clashed.