He was born in Westminster, Canada West,[1] the son of a Major Fraser, and was educated in London. He studied law with William Elliott, who later became a judge, and was called to the bar in 1867. Fraser married Sophia Robinson Elliott.[2] He practised law in London, Ontario.[3] He was first elected in an 1875 by-election held after John Walker was unseated.[1] Fraser died in Gravenhurst at the age of 58.[1][3]
His son William Elliot Fraser died while serving as a surgeon in the merchant navy during World War II and is buried in Northern Ireland.[4]