FRASER, THOMAS (1809-91) was born at Ledclune, Inverness-shire, the son of Captain Fraser (of a younger branch of the Lovat family). At the age of 16 he entered the service of the East India Company as an ensign in the 7th Bengal Cavalry. He retired in 1842 with the rank of captain. He was several times shipwrecked and once was the sole survivor of a vessel cast away on the French coast. Most of his ten brothers lost their lives on active service.

Fraser spent some years in France after his retirement, and in 1858 came to Wellington in the Oliver Laing. He settled in Otago, purchasing a station in Shag valley. Though he never entered the Provincial Council he was deputy-superintendent in 1868 for Macandrew, whom he strongly supported, and he was M.H.R. for Hampden (1861-63). Seven years later he was called to the Legislative Council, in which he sat until his death on 24 Jun 1891.

N.Z.P.D., 24 Jun 1891; Cycl. N.Z., iv; Otago Daily Times, 25 Jun 1891; Evening Post, 28 Jun 1934. Portrait: Parliament House.

Reference: Volume 1, page 158

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