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Personalities General J.S. Fraser [British Resident 1836?-1840?] |
The Resident Colonel and afterwards General J.S. Fraser was a gentleman
who delighted in the patronage of sciences and learning, also took a great
interest in the spread of English education in Travancore. He seems to have
played a role in encouraging Swathi Thirunal in establishing the Free School
(which later became the University College). The same seems to be the case
with the Observatory also. Sangunny menon writes: The Trivandrum Observatory
owned its origin in “1836, to the enlightened views of His Highness
“Rama Vurmah, then reigning Rajah of Travancore, “and to the
encouragement given to them by the late “General Stuart Fraser then
representing the British” Government at Trivandrum. Fraser seems to
have also played an advisory role in organisation of an experimental engineering
department, and Lieutenant and Superintendent of Irrigation and other important
works at Nanjenaud and Trivandrum, under the general supervision of the
visiting Engineer Lieutenant Horsely. It is also known that this very able
Engineer’s literacy work “Memories of Travancore” was
written at the request of the Resident, Colonel Fraser.
