Alexander Ionides

Background

Alexander Constantine Iplixes was born in Turkey on 1 September 1810, at Istanbul. His father set up a London branch for his trading firm in c.1815.

Career

In 1827 Alexander came to London, finishing his education at Brixton. They would have five children. He then founded his own textile and wheat trading-firm, Ionides and Company (he changed his surname from Ipliktzis to Ionides at this time), operating between London and the Near East and the Balkans.

In 1834 Ionides and his family moved to London, where they lived at 9 Finsbury Circus from 1834 to 1839).

In 1837 he became a naturalised British citizen. Afterwards they moved to Tulse Hill (1838-1864) and finally to 1 Holland Park (1864 onwards), during which time began to gather an artistic salon at his home.

Acting as Greek consul-general in 1854-1866, he held directorships of the Crystal Palace (1855) and of many banks. He commissioned the designers Philip Webb and Thomas Jeckyll to redecorate 1 Holland Park.

In 1875 he finally moved to a house called "Windycroft" in Hastings, leaving Alexander to complete the Aesthetic redecoration at 1 Holland Park by commissioning William Morris and Walter Crane).

Ionides and Arthur Lewis are the inspiration for Sir Lewis Cornelys in the Du Maurier novel, Trilby.

Connections

friends:

Frederic Watts

Friend:

Luke Ionides