Frasers of Philorth > Volume 1

THE FRASERS OF PHILORTH, LORDS SALTOUN. 207
ALEXANDER FRASEK, MARGERY FRASER.
FIFTEENTH OF PHILORTH, AND FIFTEENTH
LOKD SALTOUN.
Alexander, eldest sou of George, fourteenth Lord Saltoun, was born at
Philortk on the 27th of June 1758. 1
He received a liberal education, with a view to his adopting the legal
profession, and in 1780, when about twenty-two years of age, he was admitted
to the Scottish Bar, according to the following extract : —
" Mr. Swinton in the chair.
"The Hon ,jle Alexander Eraser, son of the Right Hon TlIe George, Lord
Saltoun, was publicly examined on Tit. VIII. Lib. xliii. Pand. ne quid in loco
publico vel itinere fiat ; and was found sufficiently qualified, and was recom-
mended to the Dean, to assign him a case out of the said title, for subject of
his discourse to the Lords and Faculty. John Swinton, V.D." 2
His career at the Bar was, however, a very short one, if, indeed, he ever-
obtained any practice ; for in little more than a year he succeeded to the
family title and estates, in consequence of the death of his father, on the
30th August 1781. 3
In the various arrangements which this event rendered necessary, his
character shows to advantage. He was generous and kind to his brother and
sisters ; and towards his mother, who appears to have been clever, but some-
what imperious and exacting, he used such a mixture of gentleness and firm-
ness, highly commendable in so young a man, that he preserved unimpaired
the good feeling and affection which ought to exist between such relations.
After settling these affairs, he appears to have gone abroad about January
1782, and travelled on the Continent for some time, but he returned before
the election of Representative Peers on the 24th July of that year, at which he
was present ; and at the following election, on the 8th May 1784, he was one
of the candidates, and, though unsuccessful, had fifteen votes in his favour.
1 Philorth Charter-room.
2 Minutes of Faculty, 1751-1788, p. 475.
3 Philorth Charter-room.