A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Fraser, Thomas
FRASER. (Captain, 1841. f-p., 21; h-p., 17.)
Thomas Fraser, born in May, 1796, is youngest son of the late Vice-Admiral Alex. Fraser, Equerry to H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, by Helen, eldest daughter of John Bruce, Esq., Advocate, and Collector of the Customs in Shetland; and brother of Lieut. John Fraser, who was lost in H.M.S. Magnet in Sept. 1812. He is lineally descended, on his father’s side, from Alexander, fifth Lord Lovat, and derives, through his mother, from the first Marquess of Hamilton.
This officer entered the Royal Naval College 7 Feb. 1809; and embarked, 11 Nov. 1811, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Hotspur 36, Capt. Hon. Josceline Percy, whom he accompanied to South America. After a subsequent attachment of a few months to the Ister 36, Capt. Thos. Forrest, and Rochfort 80, Capt. Sir Arch. Collingwood Dickson, both at Portsmouth, he joined, in July, 1816, the Leander 50, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral David Milne, and, on 27 Aug. 1816, was present in that ship at the bombardment of Algiers. Being, in consequence, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, by commission dated 5 Sept. in the same year, Mr. Fraser was next in succession appointed – 29 April, 1818, to the Scout 18, Capt. Wm. Eamsden, bn the Mediterranean station – 20 March, 1822, to the Severn 40, Capt. Wm. M‘Culloch, lying at Deal – and, 26 March, 1823, to the Larne 20, Capts. Fred. Marryat and Wm. Burdett Dobson. As a reward for his “conspicuously exemplary zeal and gallantry,” his “steady offlcer-like conduct,” his “unremitting exertions,” his “zeal and activity,” and his “steady bravery and good conduct” throughout the whole of the war in Ava, where he had the sole charge and conduct of many important operations, and was incessantly in contact with the enemy, Mr. Fraser was ultimately appointed to the rank of Commander 22 July, 1826, but he continued to serve as Lieutenant in the Atholl 28, Capt. Jas. Arthur Murray, until 18 April, 1827.[1] From 28 Feb. 1837, until promoted to the rank of Captain, 23 Nov. 1841, he commanded the Sappho 16, on the West India station. Since the latter date he has been on half-pay. Agent – Joseph Woodhead.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1825, pp. 325, 498, 1493, 1967, 2277, 2278.