Archibald B. D. (Archibald Browning Drysdale) Alexander

Born in Glasgow on December 12, 1855, Archibald Browning Drysdale Alexander became a clergyman in the Church of Scotland and later taught ethics at Glasgow College. He died on February 9, 1931.

Alexander is best known as a writer on the history of philosophy, Christian ethics, and modern religious thought. His books include A Short History of Philosophy, Christianity and Ethics, and The Shaping Forces of Modern Religious Thought.

His writing is straightforward and instructive, aimed at readers who want serious ideas explained with clarity rather than showiness. That mix of scholarship and readability has helped his work remain useful to students and general readers long after its first publication.