Lindley Macnaghten Fraser (14 August 1904 – 10 March 1963) was a Scottish academic, author, broadcaster and economist.
Fraser in 1948
After an academic career, during which he successfully switched from classics to economics, holding university posts in America, England and Scotland, Fraser was recruited by the BBC to join, and later head, its German service, in which his broadcasts to listeners in Nazi Germany won him a large following.
Returning to Oxford in 1925, Fraser became fellow and praelector in economics at Queen's College. Many of his pupils later distinguished themselves; among them was the future prime minister, Harold Wilson.[3] In 1932, Fraser married Elspet Mackenzie (b. 1907/8), daughter of Dr. Samuel Ridley Mackenzie of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[1] They had two daughters.[2]
In 1935, Fraser was appointed Jaffrey professor of political economy at Aberdeen University.[2] During his time at Aberdeen he wrote Economic Thought and Language (1937), which gave a systematic analysis of the terminology of economic analysis, and was translated into several languages.[4]
Broadcaster
On the outbreak of the Second World War, Fraser was sought out by his friend and former Oxford colleague, Frederick Ogilvie, the Director General of the BBC, who persuaded him to join the BBC's German service. Aberdeen University reluctantly granted him leave of absence and he began broadcasting for the BBC in February 1940.[4] He spoke German fluently and clearly but with a distinct Edinburgh accent which won him a large following among listeners in Nazi Germany.[1] By the end of the war he had become "a national institution" to his German audience.[3]
Believing that the BBC's German service could play a valuable part in the rebuilding of postwar Germany, Fraser resigned his chair at Aberdeen in 1945.[4] In the same year his first marriage was dissolved.[2] He was appointed director of the German service in 1947 and head of German programmes in February 1948.[1] His biographer, Richard Hewlett, wrote that Fraser's frequent visits to the Federal Republic of Germany and his continued, regular broadcasts "made him widely known and respected throughout the German-speaking countries of Europe."[1]
Fraser was appointed OBE in 1958. In March 1959 he married Elizabeth Scott, née Marks, a sculptor. He died of lung cancer in London in 1963 at the age of 58.[1]
1937, Economic Thought and Language: a Critique of Some Fundamental Economic Concepts, Hardcover Publisher: A. & C. Black
1945, Germany Between Two Wars a Study of Propaganda and War-Guilt, Hard Cover Publisher: Oxford U.P.,
1957, Propaganda, Publisher: Oxford University Press, London
Notes
^ abcdefHewlett, Richard, "Fraser, Lindley Macnaghten (1904–1963)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004, accessed 2 May 2011 (subscription required)
^ abcde"Fraser, Lindley Macnaghten", Who Was Who, A & C Black, 1920–2008; online edition, Oxford University Press, December 2007, accessed 2 May 2011 (subscription required)
^ ab"Prof. Lindley M. Fraser", The Guardian, 11 March 1963, p. 2
^ abc"Mr. Lindley Fraser", The Times, 11 March 1963, p. 12
March 18, 2023
lindley, fraser, lindley, macnaghten, fraser, august, 1904, march, 1963, scottish, academic, author, broadcaster, economist, fraser, 1948, after, academic, career, during, which, successfully, switched, from, classics, economics, holding, university, posts, am. Lindley Macnaghten Fraser 14 August 1904 10 March 1963 was a Scottish academic author broadcaster and economist Fraser in 1948 After an academic career during which he successfully switched from classics to economics holding university posts in America England and Scotland Fraser was recruited by the BBC to join and later head its German service in which his broadcasts to listeners in Nazi Germany won him a large following Contents 1 Life and career 1 1 Early years 1 2 Broadcaster 2 Bibliography 3 NotesLife and career EditEarly years Edit Fraser was born in Edinburgh the son of Norman Fraser a minister of the United Free Church of Scotland and of his wife Cecilia Craigie Fraser He was educated first at George Watson s College Edinburgh and when the family moved to Liverpool in 1913 he went to the Liverpool Institute High School 1 From there he won a scholarship to Balliol College Oxford where he took a first class degree in classics 2 In 1925 he was elected treasurer of the Oxford Union becoming librarian and then president the following year In 1926 and 1927 he was appointed to visiting fellowships at Princeton University and the Brookings School of Economics in Washington D C receiving a doctorate from the latter 2 Returning to Oxford in 1925 Fraser became fellow and praelector in economics at Queen s College Many of his pupils later distinguished themselves among them was the future prime minister Harold Wilson 3 In 1932 Fraser married Elspet Mackenzie b 1907 8 daughter of Dr Samuel Ridley Mackenzie of Montreal Quebec Canada 1 They had two daughters 2 In 1935 Fraser was appointed Jaffrey professor of political economy at Aberdeen University 2 During his time at Aberdeen he wrote Economic Thought and Language 1937 which gave a systematic analysis of the terminology of economic analysis and was translated into several languages 4 Broadcaster Edit On the outbreak of the Second World War Fraser was sought out by his friend and former Oxford colleague Frederick Ogilvie the Director General of the BBC who persuaded him to join the BBC s German service Aberdeen University reluctantly granted him leave of absence and he began broadcasting for the BBC in February 1940 4 He spoke German fluently and clearly but with a distinct Edinburgh accent which won him a large following among listeners in Nazi Germany 1 By the end of the war he had become a national institution to his German audience 3 Believing that the BBC s German service could play a valuable part in the rebuilding of postwar Germany Fraser resigned his chair at Aberdeen in 1945 4 In the same year his first marriage was dissolved 2 He was appointed director of the German service in 1947 and head of German programmes in February 1948 1 His biographer Richard Hewlett wrote that Fraser s frequent visits to the Federal Republic of Germany and his continued regular broadcasts made him widely known and respected throughout the German speaking countries of Europe 1 Fraser was appointed OBE in 1958 In March 1959 he married Elizabeth Scott nee Marks a sculptor He died of lung cancer in London in 1963 at the age of 58 1 Bibliography Edit1932 Protection and Free Trade 1937 Economic Thought and Language a Critique of Some Fundamental Economic Concepts Hardcover Publisher A amp C Black 1945 Germany Between Two Wars a Study of Propaganda and War Guilt Hard Cover Publisher Oxford U P 1957 Propaganda Publisher Oxford University Press LondonNotes Edit a b c d e f Hewlett Richard Fraser Lindley Macnaghten 1904 1963 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 accessed 2 May 2011 subscription required a b c d e Fraser Lindley Macnaghten Who Was Who A amp C Black 1920 2008 online edition Oxford University Press December 2007 accessed 2 May 2011 subscription required a b Prof Lindley M Fraser The Guardian 11 March 1963 p 2 a b c Mr Lindley Fraser The Times 11 March 1963 p 12 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lindley Fraser amp oldid 964302523, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
