George A. Alexander

George Andrew Alexander
35th Naval Governor of Guam
In office June 21, 1933 – March 27, 1936
Preceded by	Edmund Root
Succeeded by	Benjamin McCandlish
Personal details
Born	8 September 1884
Died	1969
Nationality	United States
Alma mater	United States Naval Academy
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Rank	Captain
Commands	USS Medusa USS Arizona

George Andrew Alexander (8 September 1884–1969) was a United States Navy Captain who served as the 35th Naval Governor of Guam. Prior to serving as governor, he commanded the USS Medusa. As Governor of Guam, he greatly changed the judicial system by purging the island of leftover Spanish laws and replacing them with the Code of Guam. He also led an unsuccessful campaign to obtain United States citizenship for all residents of Guam. After his term as governor, he commanded the USS Arizona before retiring.

Life and naval career

Alexander grew up and lived most of his life in Ohio.^[1] He entered the United States Naval Academy from Ohio in 1902. He subsequently attended Naval War College.^[1] In 1929, he took command of the Naval Oceanographic Office in Seattle, Washington.^[1] Alexander left his command of USS Medusa to serve as Governor of Guam.^[1]

Following his post as governor, he commanded the USS Arizona from June 8, 1936 until December 11, 1937.^[2] Though the government of Guam recommended him for promotion to Rear Admiral, he retired from the Navy as a Captain.^[3]

Governorship

Alexander served as the governor from June 21, 1933 to March 27, 1936.^[4] He supported the local effort to obtain United States citizenship for all residents of Guam, sending a petition requesting the right and signed by 2,000 Guamanians to the President of the United States.^[5] He revolutionized the Guam legal system, replacing old Spanish-style laws with the Code of Guam, a set of laws based on the California Codes.^[6] Though the Guam Museum opened in 1933, Alexander officially made it a government institution by executive order.^[7]

References

1. Associated Press (21 March 1933). "Governor of Guam Named; Capt. G.A. Alexander of the Navy Appointed by Roosevelt". The New York Times. New York City. The New York Times Company. p. 4.
2. "USS Arizona - Student Union Memorial Exhibit, 67-2-1,2". Student Union Memorial Exhibit. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
3. "Papers of Captain George A. Alexander 1902-1969". Operational Archive. Washington, D.C.: Naval History & Heritage Command. 14 January 2002. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
4. "Naval Era Governors of Guam". Guampedia. Guam: University of Guam. 10 August 2010. Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2011.
5. Shuster, Donald (9 August 2010). "Guam and Its Three Empires". Guampedia. Guam: University of Guam. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
6. Saussotte, Marguerite (12 August 2010). "US Naval Era: Development of the Code of Guam". Guampedia. Guam: University of Guam. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
7. Baird, J. Henry (1954). "The Guam Museum". Journal of the Polynesian Society. Auckland, New Zealand: Polynesian Society. 63 (3-4): 253–254. Archived from the original on 11 May 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2011.