Patrick Neill Fraser
{{Short description|Scottish printer and botanist (1830–1905)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
Patrick Neill Fraser FRSE FRSGS (1830–1905) was a Scottish printer and botanist.Dictionary of British and Irish Botanists and Horticulturalists, by R Desmond He was an expert on ferns.Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh 1908
Life
File:The grave of Patrick Neill Fraser and family, Dean Cemetery.jpg
He was born at 59 Lauriston PlaceEdinburgh Post Office Directory 1830 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.{{Cite web|title=Search the Archive|url=https://atom.rbge.org.uk/atom-2/|access-date=2021-08-03|language=en}} 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.The Printer (periodical) vol.13 p.170 He was living at Canonmills Cottage in north Edinburgh, close to the Royal Botanic Garden in 1855.Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1855
He later moved to "Rockville" on Murrayfield Road. Here is garden was famed for its alpines, hardy ferns and polyanthus.{{Cite web|title=Search the Archive|url=https://atom.rbge.org.uk/atom-2/|access-date=2021-08-03|language=en}}
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.Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society: Memoirs 1905 The grave lies in the north-west section of the first northern extension.
Family
He was father to Margaret Neill Fraser who became a golfer. His son, also Patrick Neill Fraser, was killed on 1 July 1916: the first day of the Battle of the Somme.CWGC casualties: P N Fraser
References
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Category:Scientists from Edinburgh
Category:19th-century Scottish botanists
Category:Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Category:19th-century Scottish businesspeople