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FRASER, JOHN JAMES, native son; lawyer; premier and lieutenant governor of
New Brunswick; b. Beaubear's Island, 1 Aug 1829, s/o John Fraser and
Margaret Fraser; m. 1st, 1867, Martha Cumming, of Fredericton, and 2nd,
1884, Jane M. Paulette Fisher (a d/o Charles Fisher, distinguished New
Brunswick politician and judge); d. Genoa, Italy, 24 Nov 1896.
John J. Fraser attended the Newcastle Grammar School when it was conducted
by John H. Sivewright and began the study of law in 1845 in the offices of
Street & Davidson. He was admitted as an attorney in 1850 and barrister in
1852. He moved to Fredericton in 1851 when Street was appointed attorney
general. He stayed with him until 1854 and then established his own practice.
Fraser entered politics in 1865 by winning a York County seat in the House
of Assembly on the anti-Confederation ticket. Defeated in the election of
1866, he reclaimed a seat in 1872 and served for six years as provincial
secretary and receiver general under Premier George E. King. He was
afterwards premier of New Brunswick (1878-82), an unsuccessful candidate
for a seat in the House of Commons (1882), a judge of the Supreme Court of
New Brunswick (1883-93) and lieutenant governor of the province (1893-96).
In 1896 he was granted an honorary LLD degree by the University of New
Brunswick.
Fraser was "a mild-mannered, gentle man liked by almost everyone who knew
him." Troubled by poor health during his term as lieutenant-governor, he
died while travelling in Europe in search of relief.
SOURCES: [b/d] Advocate 2 Dec 1896 [m] Telegraph 21 Sep 1867; Leader 25 Oct
1907 / Advance 28 Dec 1893; Can. Album; Can. Encycl.; DCB; NB Almanac & Reg. |
