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| Birth name | Edward Cleather Fraser | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | April 2, 1853 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Burnside, Mauritius | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | October 15, 1927 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Erpingham, Norfolk (aged 74 years 196 days) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Blackheath Proprietary School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Oxford University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Merchant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sir Edward Cleather Fraser KCMG (1853 - 1927) was a rugby union international who represented England in 1875 and prominent Mauritius based businessman. [2] [3]
Edward Cleather Fraser was born on April 2, 1853, in Burnside, Mauritius. [2] He was the son of James Fraser, who, alongside Hugh Hunter and George Ireland, had founded the General Merchants and factors, Hunter, Ireland & Co in Port Louis, Mauritius in 1850. On the retirement of Hugh Hunter in 1878 the firm became known as Ireland, Fraser & Co. Edward was educated at Blackheath Proprietary School and was at Merton College, Oxford from 1872 to 1875. [3] Edward was a keen sportsman and, whilst at Oxford, as well as playing rugby union was also a keen racquets player winning a doubles trophy alongside the future FA Cup finalist Herbert Alleyne. Fraser and Alleyne were also both members of the Myrmidon Club. After graduating, Fraser returned to Mauritius in 1876 to work in his father's business and upon his father's retirement in 1878, became a partner. In May 1882, he married Mary Josephine Howie in Mauritius. [4]
In 1902, Fraser became a Member of the Council of the Government of Mauritius and in 1912 was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. He was also the island's consul for Sweden, a director the Bank of Mauritius, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Railway Board and he became President of the Meteorological Society. [5]
Edward and Mary had three children all born in London: Elsie Georgina Fraser (born 1883); Marjory Harriet Fraser (born 1886); and a son, James Howie Fraser (born 1888). Mary, Edward's wife, died in 1901 at Saxingham Hall, Norwich, Norfolk with all three children still in their teens. James was educated at Rugby School and after a short time in Canada returned to serve with the Gordon Highlanders in World War One. He was killed in action on 30 October 1914, at Ypres, Western Front October 1914 and was posthumously Mentioned in Dispatches. [6]
In 1923, Edward Cleather Fraser was promoted to knighthood within the order of St Michael and St George. [7] He died on 15 October 1927 in Norfolk. [8]
Fraser played rugby at Blackheath Proprietary School, a school that was both a founder of the Football Association and whose old boys club Blackheath Football Club was a founder of the Rugby Football Union. He played for Merton College in 1872 and went on to play for Oxford University in 1873 to 1875. [1] He played in the second ever Varsity Match in 1873 and was also a member of the side in 1875 which was the first to take place with the reduced squad of fifteen players (from twenty previously). After representing the South of England in the North v South International Trial at The Oval he was selected to play for England in their first ever match against Ireland at The Oval on February 19, 1875. [1] Despite Fraser missing a place kick, England won by 2 goals and a try to nil [2] Before returning to Mauritius, Fraser played for Blackheath Football Club.
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is the body managing rugby union in the island of Ireland. The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where adult men's Irish rugby union international matches are played. In addition, the Union also owns the Ravenhill Stadium in Belfast, Thomond Park in Limerick and a number of grounds in provincial areas that have been rented to clubs.
The Calcutta Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of the rugby match between England and Scotland played annually in the Six Nations Championship. Like the match itself (England–Scotland), the Calcutta Cup is the oldest trophy contested between any two international rugby union teams, pre-dating the Bledisloe Cup by 53 years, 135 days. It is also the oldest of several trophies awarded under the umbrella of the Six Nations Championship, which include the Millennium Trophy (England–Ireland), Centenary Quaich (Ireland–Scotland), Giuseppe Garibaldi Trophy (France–Italy), Auld Alliance Trophy (France–Scotland), the Doddie Weir Cup (Scotland–Wales) and the Cuttitta Cup (Italy–Scotland).
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The Blackheath Proprietary School was an educational establishment founded in 1830. In the 19th century, it had a profound influence on the game of football, in both Association and Rugby codes. In 1863, the school became one of the founders of The Football Association.
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Frederick Schomberg Ireland was an English lawyer and merchant who played cricket as an amateur. Ireland was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm roundarm.
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George Ireland was a businessman and one of the founders of Ireland Fraser & Co. Today, known as Ireland Blyth Limited, it is the 2nd largest business group in Mauritius.
Captain John Frederick Ireland was an English amateur cricketer. Ireland was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm roundarm medium pace.
Herbert Percy Alleyne was an English footballer who played for English club Old Etonians.