John Fraser (academician)

Infobox University Chancellor
name = John Fraser


caption =
order =
university = Penn State University
term_start = 1866
term_end = 1868
birth_date = 1823
birth_place = Cromarty, Scotland
death_date = death date|1878|6|4|mf=y
death_place = Allegheny, Pennsylvania
predecessor = William Henry Allen
successor = Thomas Henry Burrowes
alma_mater = University of Aberdeen
residence =
profession =
religion =
salary =
spouse =
children =
website =
footnotes =

John Fraser ( 1823 – June 4, 1878) was an American soldier and educator. He was the third president of the Pennsylvania State University, serving from 1866 until 1868.

Fraser was born in Cromarty, Scotland, and studied at Aberdeen University. He graduated with a master's degree in mathematics. He emigrated to Bermuda to teach and then relocated to New York City to take charge of a private school. In 1851, he moved to western Pennsylvania and became professor of mathematics at Jefferson College.

During the American Civil War, he enlisted in the 140th Pennsylvania Infantry in 1862 and rose through the ranks to be the regiment's colonel. He fought at the Battle of Gettysburg in the Wheatfield area, taking charge of the 140th when all the senior officers were incapacitated. He was taken as a prisoner of war during the Siege of Petersburg and incarcerated in Charleston, South Carolina. He ended the war with the rank of brigadier general in the volunteer army.

References

* [http://www.lias.psu.edu/speccolls/psua/psgeneralhistory/presidents/fraser.htm Penn State Presidents and their achievements]
*cite book |last=Connelley |first=William E. |title=A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans |year=1918 |publisher=Lewis Publishing Company |location=Chicago |id=LCC|F681.C75 |url= http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1918ks/biof/fraserj.html
*cite web |last=Mitchell |first=Allan |title=John Fraser: 140th Pennsylvania Infantry |work=Scotsmen and Women who fought for the Union |url=http://www.allan-mitchell.org.uk/fraser.htm |accessdate=2007-03-02
*cite web |last=McIntyre |first=Alastair |title= Col. John Fraser |work=Scots around the world |url=http://www.electricscotland.com/history/world/john_fraser.htm |publisher=Electric Scotland |accessdate=2007-03-02

Persondata
NAME=Fraser, John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Union Army General and Third president of Penn State University
DATE OF BIRTH= 1823
PLACE OF BIRTH=Cromarty, Scotland
DATE OF DEATH=June 4, 1878
PLACE OF DEATH=Allegheny, Pennsylvania