He was born at 59 Lauriston Place in
Edinburgh the son of William Fraser, a printer at Neill & Co. (est.1749) He was named after his father's boss
Patrick Neill, who was probably also his godfather. The printworks, at 10 Old Fishmarket Close in the
Old Town had been rebuilt in 1825 following total destruction in the
Great Fire of Edinburgh. When Neill died childless in 1851 Patrick Neill Fraser took over the printworks (aged only 21) with his younger brother Alexander Fraser. He was living at
Canonmills Cottage in north Edinburgh, close to the
Royal Botanic Garden in 1855. He later moved to "Rockville" on
Murrayfield Road. Here is garden was famed for its alpines, hardy ferns and
polyanthus. In 1892 he was elected a Fellow of the
Royal Society of Edinburgh. His proposers were
Andrew Douglas Maclagan,
Sir Arthur Mitchell,
Sir William Turner and
Alexander Buchan. He died at Rockville on 27 February 1905 and is buried in
Dean Cemetery in western Edinburgh. The grave lies in the north-west section of the first northern extension. ==Family==