Alexander Ellis Anderson was born in Dundee, Angus, Scotland on 14 November 14 November 1865. He received his training with two Scottish building firms, Messrs Davies in St Andrews and G Easton in North Berwick, from 1883 to 1889. From 1889 to 1893 he worked as an assistant in the offices of J. A. Hunt, a joiner in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire; his brother, William James Anderson (1863-1900) in Glasgow; and William Larner Sugden (1850-1901) in Leek Staffordshire.
He commenced independent practice as an architect in Northampton, Northamptonshire in 1893 and in 1910 was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA). He was also a member of the Northamptonshire Association of Architects.
Anderson was executant architect for Charles Rennie Mackintosh's remodelling of 78 Derngate for W. J. Basset-Lowke in 1916. He died in St. Bartholomew’s hospital, London on 14 December 1935.
Shoe factories. — Green and Sons, Northampton; [Joint Architect with Louis Solomon] A. and W. Fluteau, Tottenham, London, N.; A. E. Marlow, Northampton; Fursell and Drury, Bromsgrove; Victor Drury, Bromsgrove; Cave and Sons, Rushden; Selwood, Rushden; F. Cook, Long Buckly; and Owen Parker, Higham Ferrers. Warehouses. — Malcolm Inglis and Co., Northampton: Malcolm Inglis and Co., Manchester: Malcolm Inglis and Co., London; and Pearson and Co., London. Post Office and Bank for London, City and Midland, Rushden; warehouse and works for Standard Rotary Co., Rushden; premises and factory for W. Barratt and Co., Northampton; machine bakery and warehouse, offices and premises for Co-operative Society, Northampton: Congregational Chapel, Primrose Hill, Northampton; Y.W.C.A. Memorial Hall, Northampton; offices and depot for Moccasin Shoe Works, Northampton; estate of 50 small houses, Northampton.
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001