Dr Patrick Fraser
Dr Patrick Fraser, known as ‘The Doctor’, was Medical Officer of Prudential from 1848, director from 1852-1893 and honorary director, a position unique to him, until his death in 1896.
Patrick Fraser was born at Liberton in Lanarkshire on the 5 March 1805. He studied at Edinburgh and then went to learn anatomy in Dublin. Following this, he travelled widely in Europe and became a naval surgeon to Honourable East India Company in 1829 and then the Royal Navy in 1832. He established his practice in London in 1837 and became a physician to the London Hospital in 1845.
Although his formal position at Prudential was that of Medical Officer, there is evidence that Dr Fraser took a keen interest in all other matters affecting the company. In the early days of the Industrial Branch, the company had some difficulties with agents. On more than one occasion he joined Henry Harben in visiting Millbank Prison or another gaol to identify men who had attempted to defraud the company in some way.
In 1854 he went to the Crimea as a volunteer and subsequently published a book titled ‘A treatise upon penetrating wounds of the chest’ which was based on his experiences there. The scandalous treatment of wounded soldiers in the desperate winter that followed was reported by war correspondents for newspapers, prompting the work of Florence Nightingale and others which led to the introduction of modern nursing methods.
By 1893 the Prudential still only had 170 shareholders. Dr Fraser, holding 10,380 shares, was the company’s largest single shareholder.
In the nineteenth century many of the Prudential’s directors were connected through marriage and family ties. Dr Fraser’s nephew was Thomas Wharrie (a director of the company from 1893-1917). Wharrie was married to Henry Harben’s eldest daughter Mary.
At the age of 88 in 1893, Dr Fraser was made honorary director of the company, having served as director and Medical Officer of the company since its formation. He died in 1896.
