Date Published:
July 2005

L’Encyclopédie de l’histoire du Québec / The Quebec History Encyclopedia

John James Fraser

Fraser, John James (1829-1896), prime minister of New Brunswick (1878-82) and lieutenant-governor (1893-6), was born at Miramichi, New Brunswick, on August 1, 1829 , the son of John Fraser. He was educated at the Newcastle grammar school, and in 1852 was called to the bar of New Brunswick (Q.C., 1873). He was elected a member of York county in the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in 1865, as an opponent of Confederation; but was defeated in the elections of 1866. From 1871 to 1872 he was president of the Executive Council in the King administration, with a seat in the Legislative Council; and from 1872 to 1878 he was provincial secretary, with a seat in the Legislative Assembly. From 1878 to 1882 he was attorney-general and prime minister. In 1882 he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court; and in 1893 he became lieutenant-governor. He died on November 24, 1896, in Italy, whither he had gone in search of health. He was twice married, (1) in 1867 to Martha (d. 1871), daughter of Alexander Gumming, of Fredericton ; and (2) in 1884 to Jane, daughter of Mr. Justice Fisher, of Fredericton.

Source  : W. Stewart WALLACE, ed., The Encyclopedia of Canada, Vol. II, Toronto, University Associates of Canada, 1948, 411p., p. 389.