Fraser, William D.

Born: 1814-XX-XX New York

Died: 1856-07-27 Florida

Fraser was a U.S. Army officer and engineer. Fraser entered the U.S. Military Academy in July 1830, graduating first in the class of 1834. The War Department commissioned him as brevet second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. From 1834 to 1836, he assisted in surveying the border between Ohio and Michigan and in improving navigation on the Hudson River. In September 1836, he received promotion to second lieutenant. From 1836 to 1839, he supervised construction of Fort Monroe and superintended the improvement of Lake Ontario harbors. He earned promotion to captain in July 1838. During the Aroostook War of 1838-39, Fraser served as aide-de-camp to General John E. Wool. He supervised repairs on Fort Niagara and the construction of Fort Porter. During the Mexican War, he again served as aide-de-camp to General Wool, repairing and reorganizing the defenses of Monterrey and repairing Fort Brown. In May 1848, he was breveted to major for his gallant and meritorious during the conflict. From 1848 to 1855, Fraser superintended the construction and improvement of forts, harbors, and rivers in New York, New Jersey, and Maine. In 1856, he died while supervising the construction of Fort Taylor in Key West, Florida.

George W. Cullum, Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, 3rd ed. (Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin, 1891), 1:567.