Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 20.djvu/222

  :: and Guardian and Ward,’ 2nd edit. prepared by Hugh Cowan, Edinburgh, 1866, 8vo.
 * 1) ‘Sketch of the Career of Duncan Forbes of Culloden, 1737–47,’ Aberdeen, 1875, 8vo.
 * 2) ‘Treatise on Husband and Wife, according to the Law of Scotland,’ 2nd edit., 2 vols., Edinburgh, 1876, 8vo.
 * 3) ‘Treatise on the Law of Scotland relative to Master and Servant, and Master and Apprentice,’ 3rd edit. prepared by W. Campbell, Edinburgh, 1881, 8vo.



FRASER, ROBERT (1798–1839), Scottish poet, was born at Pathhead, Fifeshire, on 4 June 1798. In early life he served as an apprentice, first to a wine merchant and then to an ironmonger. In 1819 he entered into a partnership as an ironmonger in Kirkcaldy, and in 1833 began business on his own account. In 1836 he lost his fortune, through having become financial surety to a friend. He was almost entirely self-educated, and during intervals of leisure he acquired a knowledge of several foreign languages. He contributed original pieces and verse translations from German, Spanish, and other languages to the ‘Edinburgh Literary Gazette,’ the ‘Edinburgh Literary Journal,’ and various newspapers. His poetical work, which is wholly unpretentious, is distinguished by true feeling of its kind and nicety of touch. A selection was issued by David Vedder soon after his death. In 1838 he became editor of the ‘Fife Herald.’ He died on 22 May 1839. He married, in 1820, a Miss Ann Cumming, by whom he had eight children.



FRASER, ROBERT WILLIAM (1810–1876), Scotch divine and miscellaneous writer, son of Captain Robert Fraser, was born at Perth in 1810, and is said to have been educated at the Edinburgh University, though his name does not appear in the list of Edinburgh graduates published by the Bannatyne Club, 1858. He was, however, accustomed to append the letters A.M. to his name. He was licensed to preach by the Edinburgh presbytery in 1840, and in 1843 was presented to the parish of Burntisland, where he so greatly distinguished himself as a preacher that in 1844 he was chosen to succeed Dr. Thomas Guthrie as minister of St. John's Church, Edinburgh. Here his eloquence in the pulpit and his devotion to his pastoral duties attracted a large congregation, which he retained until his death on 10 Sept. 1876. Fraser was the author of the following works:
 * 1) ‘Moriah, or Sketches of the Sacred Rites of Ancient Israel,’ Edinburgh, 1849, 8vo.
 * 2) ‘Leaves from the Tree of Life. A Manual for the Intervals between the Hours of Divine Service in each Sabbath of the Year,’ Edinburgh, 1851, 2nd edit. 1852, 16mo.
 * 3) ‘The Path of Life. A Discourse delivered on the Anniversary of the Birthday of George Heriot,’ Edinburgh, 1851, 12mo.
 * 4) ‘Turkey, Ancient and Modern. A History of the Ottoman Empire. With Appendix,’ Edinburgh, 1854, 8vo.
 * 5) ‘Elements of Physical Science, or Natural Philosophy in the form of a Narrative,’ London, 1855, 12mo, 3rd edit. under the title of ‘The Handbook of Physical Science,’ London, 1866, 8vo.
 * 6) ‘The Kirk and the Manse. Sixty illustrative Views in tinted lithography of the interesting and romantic Parish Kirks and Manses in Scotland. With descriptive and historical Notices and an Introduction,’ Edinburgh, 1857, 4to.
 * 7) He edited ‘Ebb and Flow, the Curiosities and Marvels of the Seashore. A Book for young People,’ London, 1860, 8vo.
 * 8) ‘Head and Hand, or Thought and Action in relation to Success and Happiness,’ Edinburgh, 1861, 8vo.
 * 9) ‘Seaside Divinity,’ London, 1861, 8vo.
 * 10) ‘The Seaside Naturalist. Outdoor Studies in Marine Zoology and Botany, and Maritime Geology,’ London, 1868, 8vo.
 * 11) ‘Gladdening Streams, or Waters of the Sanctuary. A Book for Fragments of Time in each Lord's Day in the Year,’ Edinburgh, 1868, 24mo.



FRASER, SIMON, twelfth (1667?–1747), notorious Jacobite intriguer, was a descendant of Sir Simon Fraser, high sheriff of Tweeddale (now Peeblesshire). Another Simon Fraser, who fell at the battle of Halidon Hill in 1338, came into the possession of the tower and fort of Lovat, near the Beauly, Inverness-shire, anciently the seat of the Bissets; and in accordance with highland custom the clan Fraser were therefore called in Gaelic Macshimi, sons of Simon. In 1431 Hugh, grandson of Simon, was created a lord of parliament under the title Lord Lovat. Simon, twelfth lord, was the son of Thomas Fraser, styled afterwards ‘of Beaufort’ (Castle Downie, the chief seat of the family), third son of the eighth Lord Lovat, his mother being Sybilla, daughter of the Macleod of Macleod. According to his age at his death printed on