Background
Fletcher was born in Cavendish, Vermont, and in his early years he worked on his father"s farm.
Fletcher was born in Cavendish, Vermont, and in his early years he worked on his father"s farm.
He attended Norwich University and taught in a local school during the winter months. He attended Norwich University and became a farmer.
He was a noted anti-slavery and temperance advocate who served in the Vermont State Senate, and he became a Republican when the party was founded in the 1850s. Nominated by the newly formed Republican Party, he was re-elected in 1855. He was a strong proponent of biennial rather than annual gubernatorial elections and was a tireless worker for the anti-slavery and temperance causes.
After the State House burned down in an 1857 fire, he called a special legislative session to plan for rebuilding.
In 1858, he called the first muster and training of the Vermont militia since the Mexican War. That training proved useful at the start of the Civil War. which left unchecked would sweep away our most cherished liberties and dearist institutions."" He became a Republican when the party was founded in the 1850s.
After leaving the governorship, Fletcher served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1861 to 1864, and a Presidential Elector for Vermont in 1864. He received an honorary degree of master of arts from Dartmouth in 1869.
Fletcher died in Cavendish, and is interred at Cavendish Village Cemetery, Cavendish, Vermont.
Fletcher was a member of the anti-immigrant Know-Nothings after the demise of the Whigs, and said that "immigrants brought with them the "mortal disease (of) monarchy and despotism, of Romanism and heathenism. He was a member of the State Constitutional Convention in 1870.