Francis Richard Fraser
Encyclopedia
Sir Francis Richard Fraser (February 14, 1885 - October 2, 1964) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, to Sir Thomas Richard Fraser, the Professor of Materia Medica at the University of Edinburgh
and member of the Royal Society
, and Susanna Margaret Duncan. After attending Edinburgh Academy
and Christ's College
at Cambridge University, Fraser received his medical training from the University of Edinburgh
. He interned at the Royal Infirmary and the Hospital for Sick Children
, both in Edinburgh. By chance, due to an illness of his father's, Fraser was asked to host a dinner in honor of Abraham Flexner
. Flexner convinced Fraser to go to the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research in the United States for his postgraduate work.
While in the United States, Fraser worked on poliomyelitis
and electrocardiographs with Rufus Cole, Simon Flexner
and Alfred E. Cohn at the Rockefeller. He then went on to work with W. T. Longcope at Presbyterian Hospital
. When World War I
broke out, Fraser joined up with the Harvard Unit and returned to England.
In 1920 Fraser became Assistant Director of the Medical Unit at Saint Bartholomew's Hospital in London. When Archibald Garrod
left the position of Director later that year to go to Oxford, Fraser was appointed to it. He remained at St. Bart's until 1934 when he was asked to become the first Professor of Medicine at the Postgraduate Medical School at Hammersmith Hospital
. In 1939 Fraser was asked to join the Emergency Medical Services
and soon was appointed Director General. For his work with the EMS and Hammersmith, Fraser was knighted in 1944.
At the close of World War II Fraser resigned from Hammersmith to undertake the establishment of a British Postgraduate Medical Federation as its first Director. The Federation loosely joined and established postgraduate medical schools and institutes in the London area. In 1960 Fraser retired from academic life.
In 1919 Fraser married Mary Claudine Stirling Fraser, daughter of Colin Dunlop Donald and widow of Captain John Alexander Fraser, Francis Fraser's first cousin. Mary Claudine had two daughters from the previous marriage, Alexandra Mary Agnes and Margaret Stirling, and with Francis Fraser had one son, Peter Basil Fraser.
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
and member of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
, and Susanna Margaret Duncan. After attending Edinburgh Academy
Edinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
and Christ's College
Christ's College, Cambridge
Christ's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.With a reputation for high academic standards, Christ's College averaged top place in the Tompkins Table from 1980-2000 . In 2011, Christ's was placed sixth.-College history:...
at Cambridge University, Fraser received his medical training from the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
. He interned at the Royal Infirmary and the Hospital for Sick Children
Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children – is a major paediatric centre for the Greater Toronto Area, serving patients up to age 18. Located on University Avenue in Downtown Toronto, SickKids is part of the city’s Discovery District, a critical mass of scientists and entrepreneurs who are focused on...
, both in Edinburgh. By chance, due to an illness of his father's, Fraser was asked to host a dinner in honor of Abraham Flexner
Abraham Flexner
Abraham Flexner was an American educator. His Flexner Report, published in 1910, reformed medical education in the United States...
. Flexner convinced Fraser to go to the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research in the United States for his postgraduate work.
While in the United States, Fraser worked on poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the fecal-oral route...
and electrocardiographs with Rufus Cole, Simon Flexner
Simon Flexner
Simon Flexner, M.D. was a physician, scientist, administrator, and professor of experimental pathology at the University of Pennsylvania . He was the first director of the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research and a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation...
and Alfred E. Cohn at the Rockefeller. He then went on to work with W. T. Longcope at Presbyterian Hospital
Presbyterian Hospital
Presbyterian Hospital may refer to:* New York-Presbyterian Hospital, a hospital in New York City* Presbyterian Hospital , a hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina* Presbyterian Hospital , a hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico...
. When World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
broke out, Fraser joined up with the Harvard Unit and returned to England.
In 1920 Fraser became Assistant Director of the Medical Unit at Saint Bartholomew's Hospital in London. When Archibald Garrod
Archibald Garrod
Sir Archibald Edward Garrod KCMG, FRS was an English physician who pioneered the field of inborn errors of metabolism.- Education and Personal Life :...
left the position of Director later that year to go to Oxford, Fraser was appointed to it. He remained at St. Bart's until 1934 when he was asked to become the first Professor of Medicine at the Postgraduate Medical School at Hammersmith Hospital
Hammersmith Hospital
Hammersmith Hospital is a major teaching hospital in West London. It is part of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and is associated with the Imperial College Faculty of Medicine...
. In 1939 Fraser was asked to join the Emergency Medical Services
Emergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
and soon was appointed Director General. For his work with the EMS and Hammersmith, Fraser was knighted in 1944.
At the close of World War II Fraser resigned from Hammersmith to undertake the establishment of a British Postgraduate Medical Federation as its first Director. The Federation loosely joined and established postgraduate medical schools and institutes in the London area. In 1960 Fraser retired from academic life.
In 1919 Fraser married Mary Claudine Stirling Fraser, daughter of Colin Dunlop Donald and widow of Captain John Alexander Fraser, Francis Fraser's first cousin. Mary Claudine had two daughters from the previous marriage, Alexandra Mary Agnes and Margaret Stirling, and with Francis Fraser had one son, Peter Basil Fraser.