Background
Findlay was born in London, 6 January 1812, a descendant of the Findlays of Arbroath, Forfarshire.
Findlay was born in London, 6 January 1812, a descendant of the Findlays of Arbroath, Forfarshire.
His services to geography have been compared with those of Aaron Arrowsmith and August Heinrich Petermann. Findlay"s father, Alexander Findlay was one of the original fellows of the Royal Geographical Society. The son Alexander George Findlay devoted himself to the compilation of geographical and hydrographical works.
On the death of John Purdy, the hydrographer, in 1843, he took a leading position.
His researches in meteorology attracted the attention of Robert FitzRoy. On the death of Richard Holland Laurie of Laurie & Whittle, the London geographical and print publisher, in 1858, Findlay took over the business.
In 1885, when Van Keulen of Amsterdam, founded in 1678, was dissolved, it became the oldest active firm in Europe for the publication of charts and nautical works. Findlay died at Dover on 3 May 1875.
In 1844 he was elected a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and was a member of its council and committees.