Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 2).djvu/567

Rh he remained twelve years. He was then appointed principal of the Normal school by the government of Milan, and had three hundred teachers under his control. He filled this post for two years, and did much to advance popular education. He was compelled to resign it through ill health, and, with the consent of his bishop, he sailed for the United States in the following year. Shortly after land- ing he went to Brooklyn and was assigned to duty in the prtrish of St. Charles. In 1859 he was ap- pointed to open a new parish in the neighborhood of Hicks and Warren streets. In the following- year the parish of St. Peters was founded, and a large church erected with a congregation of 3,000, which under his ministry has increased to 17,000, thus forming the largest parish in the diocese of Brooklyn. In 1866, at a cost of over $60,000, he built the academy that adjoins St. Peter's church, in which about 2,000 children receive free instruc- tion. During the war he established a home for orphans, and afterward erected St. Peter's hospital. In 1878 he purchased, at a cost of $80,000, the re- mainder of the block on which St. Peter's church stands, and all the buildings on it. were devoted to charitable purposes. In 1887 he undertook to erect on this estate a hospital at a cost of $200,000. He afterward secured possession of the chapel of the Church of the Pilgrims, and, after completely remodelling it and building additions, converted it into a library, school, and kindergarten.

FRASER, Charles, artist, b. in Charleston, S. C, 20 Aug., 1782; d. there, 5 Oct., 1860. In his youth he made sketches of the scenery about Charleston. He studied law, and three years later began the study of art, but was discouraged and resumed his legal studies. He was admitted to the bar in 1807, and retired from practice in 1818 with sufficient competency to continue art. He devoted much attention to miniature painting, in which he was successful. In 1825 he painted a portrait of Lafayette, and subsequently a great number of citizens of South Carolina. He pro- duced many landscape and genre pictures. In 1857 his works were exhibited in Charleston. For a short time he resided in Boston. He contrilnited to various periodicals, published addresses, and " Reminiscences of Charleston."

FRASER, Christopher Finlay, Canadian statesman, b. in Brockville, Out., in October, 1889; d. 24 Aug., 1894. He was apprenticed to a printer, but began the study of law in 1859, and was called to the bar of Upper Canada in 1865. He was first elected to the legislative assembly of Ontario for South Grenville in 1872, but was unseated on petition. He was returned for the same constituency in October, 1872, re-elected in 1875, represented Brockville in 1879, and again in 1883. He was appointed a member of the provincial executive council in November, 1873, and was provincial secretary and registrar from that date till April, 1874 ; he was then appointed commissioner of public works, which office he retained till his death. Mr. Fraser was instrumental in organizing the Ontario Roman Catholic league for political purposes, and was regarded as the political director of his co-re- ligionists in that province. He was a bencher of the law society of Ontario, president of the Roman Catholic literary society of Brockville, and one of the directors of the Ontario bank.

FRASER, Simon, British soldier, b. in 1729; d. in Saratoga, N. Y., 7 Oct., 1777. He was the youngest son of Alexander Fraser, of Balwain and Glendo, of the Lovat family, by a daughter of Angus Mackintosh, of Killachy, from whom the celebrated Sir James Mackintosh was directly de- scended. He entered the army at an early age, became lieutenant of the 78th foot, 5 Jan., 1757, captain, 22 April, 1759, major, 8 Feb., 1762, and lieutenant-colonel, 14 July, 1768. He served with distinction in Holland and Germany, was in the expedition against Louisburg, and accompanied Gen. Wolfe to Quebec. He did garrison duty at Gibraltar for several years, and was afterward sta- tioned in Ireland, whence he embarked for America with the 24th regiment, 5 April, 1776, arriving at Quebec on 28 May. Soon after his arrival in Can- ada he was appointed by Carleton, 10 June, 1776, a brigadier-general for America only. His last commission was that of colonel in the army, his appointment being gazetted 22 July. 1777. He as- sisted in driving the Americans out of Canada in 1776, and was in command in the severely contested action at Three Rivers. Having acquired a high reputation for judgment and cool daring, he was selected by Burgoyne to command the light bri- gade, which formed the right wing of the British army. He thus was constantly in the advance, rendering most efficient service, and, had his advice been followed, the blunder of advancing on Ben- nington with heavy mounted German dragoons, on an expedition requir- ing the greatest celer- ity of movement, would never have been com- mitted. After the evac- uation of Ticonderoga he pursued the retreat- ing Americans under St. Clair, and, assisted by his German ally. Gen. Riedesel, gained a sig- nal victorv at Hubbard- ton, 7 July, 1777. He opened the battle of 19 Sept. by engaging Mor- gan's skirmishers, and in the action of 7 Oct. was shot and mortally wounded by " Tim Mui'- phy," one of Morgan's riflemen, in obedience to special instructions from that officer. During the succeeding night he was tenderly ministered to by the Baroness Riedesel, who did all in her power to alleviate his sufferings, and at eight o'clock of the following morning he died. He was buried at sun- set, by his particular request, on a knoll overlooking the Hudson, Chaplain Brudenell officiating. As the funeral cortege moved up the hill the American bat- teries opened fire, but ceased as soon as the nature of the gathering was known. To Burgoyne the loss of Fraser was a severe blow, and contemporary military writers affirm that, had he lived, the British would have made good their retreat into Canada- It was said of him that he had always shown as great skill in conducting a retreat as bravery in leading an attack, having, during the seven years' war, brought off in safety 500 chasseurs in sight of the French army. Gen. iFraser's temper was warm, open, and communicative, but reserved in matters of confidence. Burgoyne paid him a touching tribute in his "Narrative," and in his report to Lord George Germaine, dated Albany, 20 Oct., 1777, said: "The extensive merits which marked the public and private character of Brig.-Gen. Fraser will long remain upon the memory of this army, and make his loss a subject of particular re- gret." He married in 1769 Mrs. Grant, of London, who survived him, and who, in 1781, married at Edinburgh an advocate named George Buchan