Alexander Powell

Little is known about Alexander Powell’s early life. Before coming to the White House, he worked as a messenger for Chester A. Arthur in New York while Arthur served as collector of the Port of New York, the federal official responsible for overseeing customs operations at the port. When Arthur became vice president in March 1881, Powell accompanied him to Washington and likely continued serving as his personal messenger.¹

Following the death of President James A. Garfield in September 1881, Arthur assumed the presidency, and Powell was appointed usher and messenger at the White House.² He remained in that position until 1885, when President Grover Cleveland took office. Powell then left the White House and entered the Railway Mail Service.³

The next documented reference to Powell appears in 1899, when reports indicate that he had relocated to New York and was employed by Tiffany & Co.⁴ His employment there is an interesting connection to Arthur’s presidency; Louis Comfort Tiffany oversaw the redecoration of the Executive Mansion during Arthur’s presidency. Little else is known about Powell’s life. Because surviving records are limited, few details about his personal background or later years can be confirmed with certainty.