Lindley M. Fraser
Encyclopedia
Lindley Macnaghten Fraser (14 August 1904 – 10 March 1963) was a Scottish academic, author, broadcaster and economist.
After an academic career, during which he successfully switched from classics
to economics, holding university posts in America, England and Scotland, Fraser was recruited by the BBC
to join, and later head, its German service, in which his broadcasts to listeners in Nazi Germany won him a large following.
, and of his wife, Cecilia Craigie Fraser. He was educated first at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, and when the family moved to Liverpool
in 1913 he went to the Liverpool Institute High School. From there he won a scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford
, where he took a first class degree in classics
. In 1925 he was elected treasurer of the Oxford Union, becoming librarian and then president the following year. In 1926 and 1927 he was appointed to visiting fellowships at Princeton University
and the Brookings School of Economics
in Washington, D.C., receiving a doctorate from the latter.
Returning to Oxford in 1925 Fraser became fellow and praelector in economics at Queen's College
. Many of his pupils later distinguished themselves; among them was the future prime minister, Harold Wilson
. In 1932 Fraser married Elspet Mackenzie (b. 1907/8), daughter of Dr. Samuel Ridley Mackenzie of Montreal
. They had two daughters.
In 1935, Fraser was appointed Jaffrey professor of political economy at Aberdeen University. During his time at Aberdeen he wrote Economic Thought and Language (1937), which gave a systematic analysis of the terminology of economic analysis, and was translated into several languages.
, the Director General of the BBC
, who persuaded him to join the BBC's German service. Aberdeen University reluctantly granted him leave of absence and he began broadcasting for the BBC in February 1940. He spoke German fluently and clearly but with a distinct Edinburgh accent which won him a large following among listeners in Nazi Germany. By the end of the war he had become "a national institution" to his German audience.
Believing that the BBC's German service could play a valuable part in the rebuilding of postwar Germany, Fraser resigned his chair at Aberdeen in 1945. In the same year his first marriage was dissolved. He was appointed director of the German service in 1947 and head of German programmes in February 1948. His biographer, Richard Hewlett, wrote that Fraser's frequent visits to the Federal Republic of Germany and his continued, regular broadcasts "made him widely known and respected throughout the German-speaking countries of Europe."
Fraser was appointed OBE
in 1958. In March 1959 he married Elizabeth Scott, née Marks, a sculptor. He died of lung cancer
in London in 1963 at the age of 58.
After an academic career, during which he successfully switched from classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
to economics, holding university posts in America, England and Scotland, Fraser was recruited by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
to join, and later head, its German service, in which his broadcasts to listeners in Nazi Germany won him a large following.
Early years
Fraser was born in Edinburgh, the son of Norman Fraser, a minister of the United Free Church of ScotlandUnited Free Church of Scotland
The United Free Church of Scotland is a Scottish Presbyterian denomination formed in 1900 by the union of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the Free Church of Scotland...
, and of his wife, Cecilia Craigie Fraser. He was educated first at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, and when the family moved to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
in 1913 he went to the Liverpool Institute High School. From there he won a scholarship to Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, where he took a first class degree in classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
. In 1925 he was elected treasurer of the Oxford Union, becoming librarian and then president the following year. In 1926 and 1927 he was appointed to visiting fellowships at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and the Brookings School of Economics
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
in Washington, D.C., receiving a doctorate from the latter.
Returning to Oxford in 1925 Fraser became fellow and praelector in economics at Queen's College
The Queen's College, Oxford
The Queen's College, founded 1341, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Queen's is centrally situated on the High Street, and is renowned for its 18th-century architecture...
. Many of his pupils later distinguished themselves; among them was the future prime minister, Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
. In 1932 Fraser married Elspet Mackenzie (b. 1907/8), daughter of Dr. Samuel Ridley Mackenzie of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. They had two daughters.
In 1935, Fraser was appointed Jaffrey professor of political economy at Aberdeen University. During his time at Aberdeen he wrote Economic Thought and Language (1937), which gave a systematic analysis of the terminology of economic analysis, and was translated into several languages.
Broadcaster
On the outbreak of the Second World War, Fraser was sought out by his friend and former Oxford colleague, Frederick OgilvieFrederick Ogilvie
Sir Frederick Wolff Ogilvie was Director-General of the BBC from 19 July 1938 to 26 January 1942, and was succeeded by joint Directors-General Cecil Graves and Robert W. Foot. He was knighted on 10 June 1942....
, the Director General of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, who persuaded him to join the BBC's German service. Aberdeen University reluctantly granted him leave of absence and he began broadcasting for the BBC in February 1940. He spoke German fluently and clearly but with a distinct Edinburgh accent which won him a large following among listeners in Nazi Germany. By the end of the war he had become "a national institution" to his German audience.
Believing that the BBC's German service could play a valuable part in the rebuilding of postwar Germany, Fraser resigned his chair at Aberdeen in 1945. In the same year his first marriage was dissolved. He was appointed director of the German service in 1947 and head of German programmes in February 1948. His biographer, Richard Hewlett, wrote that Fraser's frequent visits to the Federal Republic of Germany and his continued, regular broadcasts "made him widely known and respected throughout the German-speaking countries of Europe."
Fraser was appointed OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1958. In March 1959 he married Elizabeth Scott, née Marks, a sculptor. He died of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
in London in 1963 at the age of 58.