Sir William Augustus Fraser, 4th Baronet of Leadclune (10 February 1826 – 17 August 1898), English politician, author and collector, was born the son of Sir James Fraser, a colonel of the 7th Hussars, who had served on Wellington's staff at Waterloo.[1]
Fraser was the eldest son of Sir James Fraser, 3rd Baronet. He was educated at Eton and at Christ Church, Oxford, graduating B.A. and M.A. In 1847 he was appointed an officer in the 1st Life Guards, but retired with a captain's rank in 1852.[2] He then set about entering parliament, and the ups and downs of his political career were rather remarkable. He was returned for Barnstaple in 1852, but the election was declared void on account of bribery, and the constituency was disfranchised for two years.[1]
At the election of 1857 Sir William, who had meantime been defeated at Harwich, was again returned at Barnstaple. He was, however, defeated in 1859, but was elected in 1863 at Ludlow. This seat he held for only two years, when he was again defeated and did not re-enter parliament until 1874, when he was returned for Kidderminster, a constituency he represented for six years, when be retired. He was a familiar figure at the Carlton Club, always ready with a copious collection of anecdotes of Wellington, Disraeli and Napoleon III.[1]
He was an assiduous collector of relics; and his library was sold for some £20,000. He died in Westminster aged 72.[1]
Contents |
His own books comprise:[1]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Fortescue Richard Bremridge |
Member of Parliament for Barnstaple 1852 – 1853 With: Richard Bremridge |
Succeeded by Richard Samuel Guinness John Laurie |
| Preceded by Richard Samuel Guinness George Buck |
Member of Parliament for Barnstaple 1857 – 1859 With: John Laurie |
Succeeded by George Potts John Ferguson Davie |
| Preceded by Beriah Botfield George Windsor-Clive |
Member of Parliament for Ludlow 1863 – 1865 With: George Windsor-Clive |
Succeeded by John Edmund Severne George Windsor-Clive |
| Preceded by Albert Grant |
Member of Parliament for Kidderminster 1874 – 1880 |
Succeeded by John Brinton |