View source for Alexander Chekhov

{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| image       = Alexander Chekhov 7.jpg
| imagesize   = 200px
| caption     =
|birth_name=Alexander Pavlovich Chekhov 
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1855|8|22}}
| birth_place = [[Taganrog]], [[Russian Empire]]
| death_date  = {{death date and age|1913|5|29|1855|8|22}}
| death_place = [[St. Petersburg]], [[Russian Empire]]
| children = [[Michael Chekhov]]
| relatives = [[Anton Chekhov]] (brother)<br>[[Ada Tschechowa]] (granddaughter)<br>[[Vera Tschechowa]] (great-granddaughter)
| spouse = Natalya Golden
}}

'''Alexander Pavlovich Chekhov''' ({{langx|ru|Алекса́ндр Па́влович Че́хов}}; August 22, 1855 &ndash; May 29, 1913), was a Russian novelist, short story writer, essayist and memoirist, and the eldest brother of [[Anton Chekhov]].

Alexander was also the father of famed actor and progressive acting theorist [[Michael Chekhov]].

Michael studied under [[Stanislavski]] before incorporating his father's mystical philosophies with those of [[Rudolf Steiner]] to pioneer "Psycho-Physical" acting techniques.

Anton Chekhov often referred to Alexander as more intelligent - but unable to produce the work to prove it due to his [[alcoholism]].

==Biography==
Alexander was born into a [[petit-bourgeois]] merchant family. He studied at the [[Taganrog]] gymnasium, graduating in 1875 with a silver medal. He later graduated from the Natural Sciences Department of the Physics and Mathematics Faculty of [[Moscow State University]]. He spoke six languages.

In his student years his works were published in comic magazines such as ''The Spectator'' and ''The Alarm Clock'', largely contributing to the familiarization of his younger brother Anton with the world of metropolitan journalism.

Upon leaving school he worked in the customs service in Taganrog (1882–85), St. Petersburg (1885) and [[Novorossiysk]] (1885–1886). He was dismissed from his post in Taganrog for a sensational story about the abuses of local customs officials, which he published in the ''[[Odessa]]'' newspaper.

He wrote under the pseudonyms Agafopod, Agafopod Edinitsin, Aloe and later A. Gray.

Married at a young age, Alexander was widowed in 1888, and the following year married the governess of his children, Natalya. From this marriage was born a son, the famous actor [[Michael Chekhov]].

He died of [[throat cancer]] in 1913 and was buried in the literary section of the [[Volkovo Cemetery]] in St. Petersburg.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chekhov, Alexander}}
[[Category:1855 births]]
[[Category:1913 deaths]]
[[Category:Writers from Taganrog]]
[[Category:People from Yekaterinoslav Governorate]]
[[Category:Short story writers from the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:Novelists from the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:Essayists from the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:Moscow State University alumni]]
[[Category:Deaths from laryngeal cancer]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:Anton Chekhov]]
[[Category:Humorists from the Russian Empire]]
[[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from the Russian Empire]]