Banker. Born in Greenock, the son of a merchant, Anderson was the nephew of Professor John Anderson (1726-96) who founded the Andersonian Institution in Glasgow. He is best known as General Manager of the Union Bank of Glasgow who negotiated the absorption of a series of private banks based in Aberdeen, Ayr, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Perth and Paisley. A widely-respected financier, Anderson was regularly consulted by government on banking matters.
He was a town-councillor in Glasgow and also served as President of his uncle's institution.
He died at his home at Carlung, near West Kilbride (North Ayrshire).