Sir Edward Henry Fraser was an influential English solicitor and civic leader, best known for his role as Mayor of Nottingham on four separate occasions. Born in Nottingham and privately educated, he emerged from a family with a strong background in lace making, with his mother, Frances Fraser, also becoming a successful businesswoman. Fraser's legal career was marked by significant contributions to the local legal community; he served as the first Secretary of the Nottingham Incorporated Law Society and later became its President in 1892. His commitment to public service and the legal profession helped shape Nottingham's civic landscape during his tenure. Fraser's legacy extends beyond his legal accomplishments, as he played a crucial role in the governance of Nottingham, advocating for community development and civic responsibility. His leadership and dedication to the city left a lasting impact, influencing future generations of civic leaders and legal professionals. Although his life and contributions may not be widely recognized today, Fraser's work in the legal and civic realms exemplifies the importance of local leadership in the late Victorian and early Edwardian eras.
“Before reading the speech from the throne, Edward VII was called by the Lord Chancellor, in accordance with the Bill of Rights of 1689, to repeat a declaration repudiating the doctrine of Transubstantiation and asserting that ‘the invocation or adoration of the Virgin Mary or any other saint and the sacrifice of the Mass as they are now used in the Church of Rome are superstitious and idolatrous’. There was to be no evasion, equivocation or mental reservation whatever. King Edward saw it as a gratuitous insult to his Catholic friends,””