William Alexander Fraser
Encyclopedia
William Alexander Fraser (24 April 1886 – 26 October 1962) was a Canadian
politician.
Fraser was born in Trenton, Ontario
where he served as mayor in the 1920s. He represented the riding of Northumberland
in Parliament with the Liberal party from 1930 through 1945. He served as Chief Whip
in the Mackenzie King government. He was later appointed to the Senate, where he remained until his death in 1962.
Fraser pursued a variety of business interests including the Trenton Cooperage Mills, a major cold storage business, fruit-growing and processing, regional newspapers, movie theatres, and a bridge-building company that later helped manufacture corvette
s for the Royal Canadian Navy
during World War II
. He was known as "Nickel Billy", perhaps in reference to his business skills.
He died at a Kingston, Ontario hospital, aged 76.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician.
Fraser was born in Trenton, Ontario
Trenton, Ontario
Trenton is a community in Southern Ontario in the municipality of Quinte West, Ontario, Canada. Located on the Bay of Quinte, it is the main population centre in Quinte West....
where he served as mayor in the 1920s. He represented the riding of Northumberland
Northumberland (Ontario electoral district)
Northumberland was a federal and provincial electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1968 and from 1987 to 2003, ad in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1999 to 2007....
in Parliament with the Liberal party from 1930 through 1945. He served as Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
in the Mackenzie King government. He was later appointed to the Senate, where he remained until his death in 1962.
Fraser pursued a variety of business interests including the Trenton Cooperage Mills, a major cold storage business, fruit-growing and processing, regional newspapers, movie theatres, and a bridge-building company that later helped manufacture corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
s for the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was known as "Nickel Billy", perhaps in reference to his business skills.
He died at a Kingston, Ontario hospital, aged 76.