John Fraser (botanist) of botany and natural science." Species named after Fraser include, among others, "Abies fraseri" (Fraser Fir), "Magnolia fraseri" (Fraser Magnolia), and the gentianworts, "Frasera". A 50-foot Fraser Fir was used in 1998 as the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree; the species was also used in 1974. The Fraser's Saint John's wort ("Triadenum fraseri") is named in honour of Fraser. John Fraser's letters are maintained at the Royal Society of Arts, and one of his portraits hung at the Hunt Library. Both Hoppner and Raeburn painted his portrait. Fraser was an elected fellow of both the Linnean Society of London (FLS 1810)
Douglas Fraser his father, who worked at a brewery, would sometimes fuel the family stove with stolen whiskey. Samuel Fraser moved to Detroit, Michigan, while his son was still a young boy, in 1922. Samuel, his mother, Douglas, his sister, and his brother sailed to New York City aboard the and were inspected at Ellis Island on April 23, 1923. They travelled to their new home in Detroit by train. Douglas was deeply influenced by the Great Depression. His father was out of work for long periods, and he admitted that the poverty and social disorder that he witnessed changed his life.