Alexander Fraser

Vice-Admiral Alexander Fraser (1747–1829) was a late 18th century and early 19th century Royal Navy commander during the Napoleonic Wars. He was responsible for the landing parties in the Battle of Long Island, captured several privateers and took place in the Second Battle of Copenhagen. Life He was born in Lerwick on the Shetland Isles the son of Hugh Fraser, an exciseman, and his wife, Jane Linning. He joined the Royal Navy as a boy in 1761 serving on the 10-gunner cutter HMS Fly under George Gayton. He was present at the Capture of Belle Ile later that year. The ship then served in the Basque Roads. In 1763 he left the Navy for some years to improve his education (this was probably at Edinburgh University). In 1768 he re-joined the Navy on HMS Mermaid as a midshipman and served off the coast of North America for three years. There he was given acting command of the sloop HMS Bonetta to sail her back to England, arriving August 1772.