Charles Fraser, an American artist, born in Charleston, S. C, Aug. 20, 1782, died there, Oct. 5, 1860. At 12 or 14 years of age he was in the habit of sketching the scenery of Charleston and its neighborhood. At the age of 16 he became a student of law. Three years later he commenced the study of art, but becoming discouraged resumed his legal studies, and in 1807 was admitted to practice. He retired at the end of 11 years with a competency, and in 1818 resumed his art. giving his attention chiefly to miniature painting, in which he attained eminent success, He painted portraits of Lafayette (1825) and of a large number of distinguished Carolinians, and also produced landscapes, interiors, historical pieces, and pictures of genre and still life, the greater part of which are owned in South Carolina. In 1857 an exhibition of his collected works was opened in Charleston, numbering 313 miniatures and 139 landscapes and other pieces in oil. He was the author of Reminiscences of Charleston," several poems and addresses, and various contributions to periodical literature.