His father, William Caldwell Anderson, served as the fourth President of Miami University during this time, holding that position from 1849 to 1854.

Alexander resigned from this role in the spring of 1863, and he was subsequently appointed relief agent, United States Sanitary Commission, a post he held until 1867.

Anderson was elected as a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1878, but he continued to serve as head of Kansas State until September, 1879, when he resigned.

After his Congressional career ended, President Benjamin Harrison, his former college roommate, appointed Anderson consul general to Cairo, Egypt in 1891.

However, Anderson grew ill in the execution of his duties and died in Liverpool, England in 1892 while in transit back to the United States.