Alexander Fraser (Upper Canada politician)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Fraser was a soldier and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Glendoemore, near Fort Augustus
, Scotland
in 1786. He joined the Canadian Fencibles in Scotland in 1803 and came to Quebec
with them in 1805. He served as quartermaster with them during the War of 1812
. In 1816, he settled in Charlottenburgh Township in Glengarry County
. He called his farm, located near Williamstown, Fraserfield. He was a co-founder of the Highland Society of Canada in 1818. In 1820, he was appointed justice of the peace in the Eastern District. In 1828, he was elected to the 10th Parliament of Upper Canada
representing Glengarry County. In 1836, he became registrar for the county.
He commanded a regiment of the Glengarry militia during the rebellion of 1837-38 in Lower Canada
. In 1839, he became a member of the Legislative Council
. In 1841, he became a legislative council
lor for the province of Canada and he was appointed the first warden of the Eastern District. He opposed the Rebellion Losses Bill
of 1849 and lobbied to ensure that the old Eastern District remained intact in 1849 as the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
.
He died at Fraserfield in 1853.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
.
He was born in Glendoemore, near Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus is a settlement in the Scottish Highlands, at the south west end of Loch Ness. The village has a population of around 646 ; its economy is heavily reliant on tourism....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1786. He joined the Canadian Fencibles in Scotland in 1803 and came to Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
with them in 1805. He served as quartermaster with them during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. In 1816, he settled in Charlottenburgh Township in Glengarry County
Glengarry County, Ontario
thumb|right|Glengarry located within OntarioGlengarry County , an area covering , is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario, and is historically known for its settlement of Scottish Highlanders due to the Highland Clearances.Glengarry was founded in 1792 by Scottish loyalists, mainly from...
. He called his farm, located near Williamstown, Fraserfield. He was a co-founder of the Highland Society of Canada in 1818. In 1820, he was appointed justice of the peace in the Eastern District. In 1828, he was elected to the 10th Parliament of Upper Canada
10th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 10th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 8 January 1829. Elections in Upper Canada had been held in July 1828. All sessions were held at York, Upper Canada...
representing Glengarry County. In 1836, he became registrar for the county.
He commanded a regiment of the Glengarry militia during the rebellion of 1837-38 in Lower Canada
Lower Canada
The Province of Lower Canada was a British colony on the lower Saint Lawrence River and the shores of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence...
. In 1839, he became a member of the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Upper Canada
The Legislative Council of Upper Canada was the upper house governing the province of Upper Canada. Modelled after the British House of Lords, it was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was specified that the council should consist of at least seven members. Members were appointed for...
. In 1841, he became a legislative council
Legislative Council of the Province of Canada
The Legislative Council of the Province of Canada was the upper house for the Province of Canada, which consisted of the former provinces of Lower Canada, then known as Canada East and later the province of Quebec, and Upper Canada, then known as Canada West and later the province of Ontario...
lor for the province of Canada and he was appointed the first warden of the Eastern District. He opposed the Rebellion Losses Bill
Rebellion Losses Bill
The Rebellion Losses Bill was a controversial law enacted by the legislature of the Province of Canada in 1849...
of 1849 and lobbied to ensure that the old Eastern District remained intact in 1849 as the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties, Ontario
The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry is an upper tier county and census division in the Canadian province of Ontario. The county seat is Cornwall...
.
He died at Fraserfield in 1853.