Background
Alexander McGowan was born in Duplin County, North Carolina on July 5, 1817.
Alexander McGowan was born in Duplin County, North Carolina on July 5, 1817.
He was raised by foster parents and spent most of his youth in Montgomery, Alabama. He came to Houston in September 1839, opening a tin shop shortly after arriving. McGowan graduated from tinner to hardware manufacturer, and eventually established a foundry in Houston.
He sold his castings and hardware to people in various parts of Texas.
He made the castings that Gail Borden used in his machine for making condensed milk. McGowan"s foundry manufactured the boiler tubes for the first electrical power plant in Houston.
Political In 1845, McGowan was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention for prepare for the annexation of Texas to the United States. He served as Chief Justice of Harris County.
He was Alderman for the City of Houston for several terms, and a Mayor of Houston for three terms.
He was Tax Assessor for Harris County, and served as Harris County Treasurer. McGowan died December 26, 1893. He was buried at San Felipe de Austin, Texas and later reinterred at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.
