Hugh Fraser (retailer)

Hugh Fraser (1815 - 1873) was the founder of House of Fraser, now one of the largest retail chains in the United Kingdom.

Career

Born the son of a Dunbartonshire farmer, Fraser was apprenticed to Stewart & McDonald, a drapery warehouse in Glasgow, where he became a manager.[1]

In 1849, he formed a partnership with James Arthur, another Glasgow shop owner, to open a drapery shop in Buchanan Street in Glasgow.[1] Together they expanded the business developing in particular its wholesale business which Arthur took over completely in 1865.[1] Fraser then went into partnership with Alexander McLaren to develop the retail side of the business and expanded it into one of the largest stores in Glasgow.[1][2]

Fraser died in 1873 leaving his business to whichever of his five sons decided to take up a share in it: in the end three sons, one of whom was the father of Hugh Fraser, 1st Baron Fraser of Allander, did so and the business continued to develop.[1][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "House of Fraser archive project" (PDF). Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Fraser & McLaren Frasers". House of Fraser Archive. Retrieved 29 November 2025.
  3. ^ "Fraser, Hugh, first Baron Fraser of Allander". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/33252. (Subscription, Wikipedia Library access or UK public library membership required.)


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