Col. Alexander Fraser

1860 - 1936  (75 years)

• Name	Alexander Fraser
  Prefix	Col.
  Born	2 Nov 1860	Keltarlity, Invernesshire, Scotland
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130711722
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-488289
  Died	9 Feb 1936	Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada
  Buried	Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto, York Co., Ontario
  Person ID	I488289	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Family	Christina Elizabeth Frances Ramsay,   b. 3 Nov 1867, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 1 Aug 1941, Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada  (Age 73 years)
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F299937	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  DEATH CALLS COL. FRASER, NOTED FIGURE Known Here as Aide to Lieutenant Governor Colonel Alexander Fraser, familiar many Brantfordites during tenure of office of Col. the Hon. Harry Cockshutt, as Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. died yesterday at his home in Toronto. Widely known as a Gaelic scholar, historian and authority on constitutional and ceremonial procedure, he had been long associated with the Ontario Government House. having served as Honorary A.D.C. during the regime of Sir John Hendrie, late Governor Lionel Clarke, Hon. Henry Cockshutt, and Hon. Ross. Invaluable service was rendered Canada during the twenty years in which he filled the office of Provincial Archivist. His half-century of residence Toronto was marked by his interest in the promotion of various Scottish societies. He was regarded as an authority in the study not only in Canada but overseas as well. He was one of the leaders in organization of the 48th Highlanders. a most enthusiastic promoter Scottish games in the Dominion, and a student and authority on the Scottish bagpipes. Born at Inverness, Scotland, Nov. 2, 1860, Colonel Fraser was the son of S. Hugh and Mary Fraser. He received his education at Inverness High School, Davidson's Classical Academy, Perth and Glasgow Universities. He received his M. A. at Glasgow University in 1886, and came to Canada about that time. Settling in Toronto, he became associated immediately with The Mail, later The Mail and Empire, and remained with this newspaper until 1898, occupying the position of City Editor, for the greater part of This period of time. In 1903 he was appointed Provincial Archivist while Sir George Ross was Prime Minister. He retired from this office in 1933. GAELIC SOCIETY PRESIDENT. From the moment of his arrival Toronto he became keenly interested in all Scottish activities and was largely responsible for the success of the Gaelic Society, of which he was a Past President and Honorary Patron, and St. Andrew's Society, of which he was also a Past President. He was for fourteen years Grand Chief of the Sons of Scotland and promoter of the benefit society of this organization. He won recognition as a sponsor of Scottish sports in Canada, the annual Scottish games of Toronto, as well as the Highland games which a few years were played at Banff, owed much to Colonel Fraser. He was a member of the Burns Club. He was associated with Colonel Donald M. Robertson in the organization of the 48th Highlanders. During the Great War he was active in Red Cross relief work, which included both British and Belgian Red Cross Societies. He was Honorary Colonel of the 127th York Rangers. Tremendously interested in education, Colonel Fraser was in the year 1921 Chairman of the Toronto Collegiate Institute Board. In historical research he excelled and made a special study of Indian lore in Ontario. Historic and missionary records were carefully, studied in compiling for the Provincial Archives., Records of Legislature and courts were prepared and republished in more than twenty volumes of legislative journals by this indefatigable historian. Colonel Fraser's numerous writings many in the Gaelic, and included the story of the life of Sir George Ross. He was one of the charter members the Empire Club, a Past Master of St. John's Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and later an officer of the Grand Lodge. Manifesting the wide scope of his interests, Colonel Fraser devoted much time to the study of the activities of the Jesuits, and had a significant part in the erection of the Jesuits' Shrine at Midland. He was honored with the degree LL.D. from Alfred University, New York State; D.Litt. from the University Toronto, and LL.D. from St.Francis Xavier, Nova Scotia The Expositor Brantford, Ontario, Mon, Feb 10, 1936 Page 2

  
  

• Event Map

  Died - 9 Feb 1936 - Toronto, York Co., Ontario, Canada Buried - - Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto, York Co., Ontario  = Link to Google Earth