Fraser was the second son of William Fraser of Park, near
Fraserburgh (a kinsman of
George Fraser, 15th Lord Saltoun), and his wife, Katherine
née Kinellar. On 29 September 1778, Fraser was appointed a lieutenant in the
73rd Highlanders, afterwards the
71st Highland Light Infantry. He was later on board
Rodney's fleet with a second
battalion (afterwards disbanded) of this regiment during the actions with the Spanish Caraccas fleet under
Juan de Lángara and at the relief of
Gibraltar. He served at the defence of Gibraltar in 1780–1782, until the loss of his right leg, his second wound during the defence, compelled him to return home. Fraser was captain of a
garrison invalid company at
Hull in 1785–1793, and at the outbreak of the
French Revolutionary War, raised men for an independent company. He became a major on 28 August 1794, and a
lieutenant colonel, royal garrison battalion, on 1 September 1795. He served at Gibraltar in 1796–1798, part of the time as acting judge advocate and civil judge. On 1 January 1800 he was appointed
colonel of the Royal African Corps, composed of military offenders from various regiments pardoned on condition of life-service in Africa and the
West Indies. With this corps, he served on the west coast of Africa in 1801–1804, and made a brave but unsuccessful defence of
Gorée in Senegal, against a superior French force from
Cayenne. Gorée was compelled to surrender on 18 January 1804, but not before the enemy's loss exceeded the total strength of the defenders at the outset. He then lived at Niddry Lodge in Kensington from 1831 to 1843. ==References==