Alexander Anderson was born in 1836 in Aberdeen, Scotland.

He was a Canadian educator and administrator. In 1854, he won a scholarship to Moray House Training College for teachers in Edinburgh and later entered the University of Edinburgh, where he won gold medals in mathematics, natural philosophy, and chemistry. He immigrated to Prince Edward Island in 1862 to take the position of second professor at Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown. There, among other duties, Anderson trained students studying for their Third-Class Teaching licence, which was the highest teaching degree offered at Prince of Wales College. In 1868, he became Principal of Prince of Wales College, and he instituted many changes to the curriculum, particularly in the sciences. In 1879, the government decided to save money by amalgamating Prince of Wales and the Normal School, and Anderson became its first Principal. He remained with Prince of Wales College until 1902, when he was appointed Superintendent of Education for the Island. His dedication to education was apparent over his many years of service. He fostered the development of countless teachers, professors, and administrators and turned Prince of Wales into an institution recognized by some of the best universities on the continent. He retired in 1912 and moved to Halifax with his wife to live with their daughter.

In 1862, he married Catherine Stewart Robertson. He died on January 13, 1925, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.