Alexander McBean, 1897 - 1898
McBean was a descendent of a Haddingtonshire family. His father was an army officer who served in the Crimean War and died whilst in service. His mother was the daughter of the Reverend Thomas Taylor from Ballinacor, County Wicklow. He was privately tutored and then continued his education at King Edward's School, Edinburgh. When he moved to Wolverhampton he worked at an iron merchants, Messrs. Lewis. Five years later he became a partner in the firm. From 1881 he traded commercially on his own as an iron and steel broker with connections in South Staffordshire. McBean was nominated as a Conservative councillor in 1890 for St Mark's Ward, and became an active member of the Public Works, Water and Lighting Committees. After the division of the wards he became councillor for Dunstall. He joined the Local Volunteer Battalion and helped to raise funds totalling £14,000 for Reservists and other soldiers. He became a commissioner of the peace in 1896, and magistrate of the borough and mayor the following year. He retired from Wolverhampton Council in 1902 and died in 1939.

J Jones The Mayors of Wolverhampton Vol 2
WH Jones 1903 Municipal Life in Wolverhampton (Alexander & Shepherd Ltd London) Obituary Express & Star 17th February 1939 Photograph Index - Y1/McB