# Alexander Yule Fraser

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Scottish mathematician

Alexander Yule Fraser Kennedy-Fraser grave in Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh Born (1857-05-03)3 May 1857 Perth, Scotland Died 9 November 1890(1890-11-09) (aged 33) Glasgow, Scotland Alma mater University of Aberdeen Known for Founder of Edinburgh Mathematical Society Spouse Marjory Kennedy-Fraser Children David Kennedy Fraser Helen Patuffa Hood Scientific career Fields Mathematics Institutions George Watson's College

**Alexander (Alec) Yule Fraser** (1857–1890) was a Scottish [mathematician](/source/Mathematician), one of the founders of the [Edinburgh Mathematical Society](/source/Edinburgh_Mathematical_Society).

## Life and work

Fraser studied at the [University of Aberdeen](/source/University_of_Aberdeen)[1] where he graduated in 1881. After that, he was appointed Mathematical Master at [George Watson's College](/source/George_Watson's_College) ([Edinburgh](/source/Edinburgh)).[2] In 1889 he was appointed Headmaster at [Allan Glen's School](/source/Allan_Glen's_School) ([Glasgow](/source/Glasgow)) but he remained only two months because a severe [pleurisy](/source/Pleurisy) forced him to leave Scotland going to [South Africa](/source/South_Africa) in search of a better climate. Back to Scotland, his health deteriorated rapidly and died in Glasgow thirty three years old.

Alec married the singer [Marjory Kennedy-Fraser](/source/Marjory_Kennedy-Fraser) in 1887 and they had a couple, David (1888–1962) and Helen Patuffa (1889–1967). [David Kennedy Fraser](/source/David_Kennedy_Fraser) became a psychologist, educator and amateur mathematician. Patuffa was a singer and musician, as her mother.

Fraser is mainly remembered for being one of the founding fathers of the [Edinburgh Mathematical Society](/source/Edinburgh_Mathematical_Society).[3]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEMannCraik201199_1-0)** [Mann & Craik 2011](#CITEREFMannCraik2011), p. 99.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHartveit20111_2-0)** [Hartveit 2011](#CITEREFHartveit2011), p. 1.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHartveit201112_3-0)** [Hartveit 2011](#CITEREFHartveit2011), p. 12.

## Bibliography

- Hartveit, Marit (2011). [*The lesser names : the teachers of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society and other aspects of Scottish mathematics, 1867–1946*](https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/handle/10023/1700) (PhD Thesis). University of St. Andrews. [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[10023/1700](https://hdl.handle.net/10023%2F1700).

- Mann, A.J.S.; Craik, A.D.D. (2011). "Scotland. Land of opportunity but few rewards". In [Raymond Flood](/source/Raymond_Flood_(mathematician)); Adrian Rice; [Robin Wilson](/source/Robin_Wilson_(mathematician)) (eds.). [*Mathematics in Victorian Britain*](https://books.google.com/books?id=YruifIx88AQC). Oxford University Press. pp. 77–102. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-960139-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-960139-4).

## External links

- O'Connor, John J.; [Robertson, Edmund F.](/source/Edmund_F._Robertson), ["Alexander Yule Fraser"](https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Fraser.html), *[MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive](/source/MacTutor_History_of_Mathematics_Archive)*, [University of St Andrews](/source/University_of_St_Andrews)

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