<sod>Alexander was born Frances Elizabeth Somerville Caldwell on 13 December 1908 in [[Merton, Surrey]].<ref name=Rigby /> Her father, Dr. K. S. Caldwell, was Professor of Chemistry and Principal at [[Patna Science College]] in India,<ref name=Gopal /> where she spent her youth.{{sfn|Orchiston|2005|p=72}} In 1918, Alexander returned to the United Kingdom and began [[secondary school]]. She went to [[Newnham College, Cambridge]] to study natural science, initially focusing on physics,<ref name=Harris /> graduating with [[First-class honours]] in 1931, then completing a [[PhD]] in [[geology]] for a thesis on [[Aymestry Limestone]].<ref name=Rigby/>{{sfn|Orchiston|2005|p=72}} Like all women graduates of Cambridge University at that time, she could not become a full member of the university until after equal rights were granted post 1945.<ref name=Museum/><eod>
<sod>Alexander was born Frances Elizabeth Somerville Caldwell on 13 December 1908 in [[Merton, Surrey]].<ref name=Rigby /> Her father, Dr. K. S. Caldwell, was Professor of Chemistry and Principal at [[Patna Science College]] in India,<ref name=Gopal />{{dubious| Patna Science College did not exist during her early youth.}} where she spent her youth.{{sfn|Orchiston|2005|p=72}} In 1918, Alexander returned to the United Kingdom and began [[secondary school]]. She went to [[Newnham College, Cambridge]] to study natural science, initially focusing on physics,<ref name=Harris /> graduating with [[First-class honours]] in 1931, then completing a [[PhD]] in [[geology]] for a thesis on [[Aymestry Limestone]].<ref name=Rigby/>{{sfn|Orchiston|2005|p=72}} Like all women graduates of Cambridge University at that time, she could not become a full member of the university until after equal rights were granted post 1945.<ref name=Museum/><eod>