Alexander Chalmers (mayor)

Alexander Chalmers was born in 1645, in Dyce, Kingdom of Scotland (now part of the United Kingdom). He was of Scottish descent. At some point he converted to the Roman Catholicism.[1]

He emigrated to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1659, at the age of 14. He eventually settled in the city of Old Warsaw (now part of Warsaw, Poland). There he married Krystyne Legowna and they both engaged in the textile trade. They both became citizens of the city in 1672. He also began using Polonised version of his name, which was Aleksander Czamer. In 1676, King John III Sobieski confirmed the rights of the eight Scottish merchants who served his court, including Chalmers. Later in life, he remarried with Christina Lang. He was also a leader of the Scottish community in Old Warsaw.[1][2]

He became involved in municipal activities in 1679. From 14 January 1681 to 1682, he was a member of the Board of Twenty of Old Warsaw, and from 1688 to 1690, from 1692, 1694, and from 1697 to 1701, he was a member of the Old Warsaw City Council. From 1687, he was also the treasurer of Old Warsaw. On 22 February 1691, he was elected as the mayor of Old Warsaw, and served his first term until 1692. He served three more terms; in 1694, in 1696, and from 1702 to 1703. He was also the wójt of Old Warsaw in 1701.[2]

Additionally, in 1697, he served as the deputy mayor of Old Warsaw. He was also the member of Election Sejm during the 1697 Polish–Lithuanian royal, representing Old Warsaw.[1][2] While deputy mayor, he went into conflict with the Dominican Order, which organized congregation in the city without paying fees. It led to the riot in November 1767, near the St. Hyacinth's Church. One person died during the riot, and the aftermath led to long-lasting disagreement between the city and the Catholic Church. The court organized after the riot, decided in favour of Dominican Order, and removed Chalmers from his position, and barred him from holding public offices for the following three years.[2]

In addition to these roles, he was also the assessor from 1683 to 1687, and a lay judge in 1703.[1][2] He was also a provisor of the Hospital of the Holy Spirit from 16 June 1695 to 28 February 1699.[3]

He owned the Falkiewicz Tenement building located at 28 Old Town Market Place, and the Shoemakers Tenement, located at 10 Wąski Dunaj Street. In 1690, the city authorities decided to grant Alexander and his wife, Christina Lang, a piece of land in perpetuity for an annual fee of 20 florins.[1][2]

He died on 9 March 1703, at the age of 58, and was buried in Archcathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist.[2]

He had a son, Wilhelm Czamer, who also served as the mayor of Old Warsaw in 1722.[4]

A plaque commemorating Alexander Chalmers, placed on the elevation of the building in Warsaw, located at 10 Wąski Dunaj Street.

A plaque commemorating Alexander Chalmers is placed on the elevation of the Shoemakers Tenement building in Warsaw, located at 10 Wąski Dunaj Street, at the corner with Szeroki Dunaj Street. The building used to be owned by Chalmers. The plaque was unveiled on 16 November 2008, by Linda Fabiani, Minister for Europe, External Affairs, and Culture of the Scottish Parliament. Around thirty people attended the ceremony.[5]