Frederick Matthias Alexander, born on January 20, 1869, in Wynyard, Tasmania, was an Australian actor and author renowned for developing the Alexander Technique. This educational process is aimed at recognizing and overcoming habitual limitations in movement and thinking. Alexander was the eldest of ten children in a family with a history of convicts transported to Tasmania. Despite a challenging childhood marked by ill health, he developed a passion for the arts, particularly drama and music, which led him to a career as a professional reciter.

His career faced a significant hurdle when he began experiencing hoarseness and loss of voice during performances. Determined to find a solution, Alexander observed himself in mirrors and discovered that his habitual posture and breathing patterns were contributing to his vocal issues. This self-observation led to the development of the Alexander Technique, which emphasizes conscious control over one's head-neck-back relationship to improve overall functioning.

Alexander's work gained recognition and support from the medical community, and he moved to London in 1904, where he introduced his technique to actors and medical professionals. He also taught in New York and Boston, gaining notable pupils like John Dewey, Bernard Shaw, and Aldous Huxley. In 1931, he began training teachers in his technique, ensuring its legacy.

Despite suffering a stroke in 1947, Alexander used his technique to recover and continued teaching until shortly before his death on October 10, 1955, in London. Today, the Alexander Technique is taught worldwide and is integrated into various educational curricula, particularly in music and drama.