Fraser Frisell (1774–1846), was a friend of
Chateaubriand and
Joubert
Joubert is a French surname. It is a regional variant form of Jaubert, originating in the centre west and centre south of France.Albert Dauzat (Foreword by Marie-Thérèse Morlet), ''Noms et prénoms de France'', éditions Larousse 1980. p. 346b. ...
.
Frisell, of British, probably Scottish parentage, was educated at the
University of Glasgow. He was in France, for the purpose of finishing his education, in 1793, when, in pursuance of the decree of the
Convention
Convention may refer to:
* Convention (norm), a custom or tradition, a standard of presentation or conduct
** Treaty, an agreement in international law
* Convention (meeting), meeting of a (usually large) group of individuals and/or companies in a ...
for the arrest of strangers, he was thrown into prison at
Dijon, where he remained for fifteen months. There he made the acquaintance of Mme. de Guitaut, whose hospitality he accepted until his return to England, after the signature of the
Treaty of Amiens. He was again in France on the renewal of the war in 1803, and was again imprisoned, but not for long. Frisell now took up his residence at Paris, where he lived during the remainder of his life, spending, however, a portion of each year in travel, and in visits to Mme. de Guitaut and her husband at
Époisses.
He became the intimate friend of Chateaubriand, Joubert,
Fontanes, and their circle. In memory of Frisell's daughter Élisa (or Louisa), who died at
Passy
Passy () is an area of Paris, France, located in the 16th arrondissement, on the Right Bank. It is home to many of the city's wealthiest residents.
Passy was a commune on the outskirts of Paris. In 1658, hot springs were discovered around whic ...
in 1832 aged 17, Chateaubriand, while in prison on charge of participation in the
Duchesse de Berry's attempt to overthrow the
Orléanist régime, composed the touching stanzas, ''Jeune Fille et Jeune Fleur'', and portions of the affectionate correspondence between Frisell and Joubert have been preserved. He died while on a visit to England in February 1846.
Frisell was a man of considerable accomplishments. Chateaubriand called him "le Gréco-Anglais", and Count Marcellus, while styling him fantastic, testifies to his culture and knowledge. His manner is described as reserved and his conversation sarcastic, with an affectation of indifference which annoyed his friends, particularly Mme. de Chateaubriand; but he was generally beloved. The only work that he is known to have written is an ''Étude sur la Constitution de l'Angleterre, avec des remarques sur l'ancienne Constitution de la France'', 1820.
Notes
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Frisell, Fraser
1774 births
1846 deaths
Alumni of the University of Glasgow
19th-century British writers