A co-founder of Fraser & Neave (F&N), the world-famous bottler of fizzy drinks, John Fraser (d. February 1907, England), was a Scotsman who made his fortune in the east. His business interest was diverse and included printing and publishing, brick manufacturing, property development, share broking, sawmilling, and the most notable, aerated drinks under the famed F&N label.
Early Career
John Fraser began his early career in finance. He was a native of Wigtown. Upon leaving school, he joined National Bank at Newton Steward seven miles from his home but he was soon transferred to a Manchester bank. In 1865, he went to Singapore, to the Chartered Mercantile Bank, but left for Shanghai where he stayed for a couple of years before returning to Singapore. He then entered into a partnership with Alex Gentle, who was also with Chartered Mercantile Bank, in a broking and accounting business. His other partners in the business were James Kerr, David Kerr and H. Payne Gallwey. In 1873, amidst growing prosperity in Singapore, Fraser founded a financial firm called Fraser & Company (now called Fraser Securities) in 1873.
Fraser & Neave and Other Enterprises
A greater partnership occurred in 1875 when Fraser joined hands with David Chalmers Neave, a printer at the Singapore Straits Printing Company. They bought up Keasberry's Mission Press when the Reverend died in 1875, and later renamed it Fraser and Neave. In 1883, Fraser and Neave formed the Singapore and Straits Aerated Water Company which in 1898 was incorporated as Fraser and Neave (F&N), Ltd. Business extended to many parts of Malaya and even to Bangkok. The Fraser and Neave Building in Robinson Road was one of Fraser's properties. In 1887, Fraser became part of a five-man team to release the Singapore Free Press as a daily newspaper.
Fraser had also formed a company that made construction materials with James Cumming in 1875. It was called Fraser and Cumming. The company leased the Johore Steam Sawmills from Dato James Meldrum, the son-in-law of Keasberry. The company also owned a brick manufacturing at Balestier and built a number of houses around Dalvey Road including White House and Cree Hall, the latter occupied by Fraser. In the 1890s, Fraser unsuccessfully tried to form a company to build a new hotel in the vicinity of Coleman Street. Fraser also carried out many important liquidations, notably that of Sayle and Company and the Singapore Insurance Company. As Fraser had his hands on so many businesses, he was nicknamed the "Jolly Old Octopus".
Family and Social life
John Fraser was President of the Singapore Club (Tanglin Club) for many years and was an auctioneer at the race lotteries whereby he would be dressed in full highland costume. He was also the secretary of Lodge Zetland and was one of the original members of the Cricket Club. Being portly, it was a surprise to many that he actually won the hundred-yard race in 1874. John Fraser retired in 1897 and returned to England. He lived at Farnham and died in February 1907.
Author
Marsita Omar
References
Edwards, N., & Keys, P. (1988). Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places (p. 161). Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: SING 959.57 EDW)
Lee, K. L. (1988). The Singapore house, 1819-1942 (pp. 107, 178,179). Singapore: Times Editions [for] Preservation of Monuments Board.
(Call no.: R SING 728.095957 LEE)
Makepeace, W., Brooke, G.E., & Braddel, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore (Vol. 2, pp. 194, 197, 455-459). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 ONE).
Turnbull, C. M. (1989). A history of Singapore: 1819-1988 (p. 93). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 TUR)
Tyers, R. K. (1976). Singapore, then & now (Vol. 2, p. 422). Singapore: University Education Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 TYE-[HIS])
2005 Holy Light Church (English) Johor Bahru. (2005). Holy Light Church (English) Johor Bahru. Retrieved June 6, 2005, from www.hlce.org.my/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=8&Itemid=28
Fraser and Neave Limited. (2003-2005). History. Retrieved June 6, 2005, from www.fraserandneave.com/fnn/aboutus/History-fnb.xml
Fraser Securities Limited. (2001. Corporate info. Retrieved May 17, 2005, from www.fraserdirect.com.sg/home/html/corporate.htm
MediacorpRadio Singapore. (2004). Did u know. Retrieved May 17, 2005, from newsradio.mediacorpradio.com/did_you_know.htm
List of Images
Makepeace, W., Brooke, G.E.,& Braddel, R. St. J. (Eds.). (1991). One hundred years of Singapore (Vol. 2, p. 459). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 ONE).
The information in this article is valid as at 2005 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
