Thomas Fletcher (Arkansas politician)

Thomas Fletcher
Member of the Arkansas Senate
from the 16th district
In office
November 10, 1874 – January 8, 1877
Preceded byNew constituency
Succeeded byM. M. Duffie
11th President of the Arkansas Senate
In office
November 1, 1858 – March 14, 1864
In exile
March 14, 1864 – June 1, 1865
Preceded byJohn R. Hampton
Succeeded byC. C. Bliss
Member of the Arkansas Senate
from the 18th district
In office
November 1, 1858 – March 14, 1864
In exile
March 14, 1864 – June 1, 1865
Preceded byA. H. Ferguson
Succeeded byI. C. Mills
Acting Governor of Arkansas
In office
November 4, 1862 – November 15, 1862
Preceded byHenry M. Rector
Succeeded byHarris Flanagin
Personal details
Born(1817-04-08)April 8, 1817
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
DiedFebruary 26, 1880(1880-02-26) (aged 62)
Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Cause of deathPneumonia
Resting placeMount Holly Cemetery,
Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
34°44′15.3″N 92°16′42.5″W / 34.737583°N 92.278472°W / 34.737583; -92.278472
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Harriett C. Cage
(m. 1841, died)
Parents
  • Thomas H. Fletcher
  • Sarah G. Fletcher
RelativesRead Fletcher (brother)
Alma materUniversity of Nashville

Thomas Fletcher (April 8, 1817 – February 26, 1880) was an American politician and lawyer who served as acting governor of Arkansas from November 4 to 15, 1862, following the resignation of Henry M. Rector. He was president of the Arkansas Senate from 1858 to 1864, and in exile at Washington, Arkansas until 1865.

Early life

Fletcher was born on April 8, 1817, at Nashville, Tennessee. He became prominent in the profession of law and, during the Polk administration, was appointed a United States marshal. An attorney in Hinds County, Mississippi in 1850, he later moved to Arkansas County, Arkansas. Turning to elective politics, he represented the 18th district in the Arkansas Senate from 1858 to 1864, and in the State government in exile at Washington, Arkansas until the end of the American Civil War.[1]

Acting governor of Arkansas

Fletcher's service as acting governor of Arkansas continued from the resignation of Henry M. Rector until the inauguration of Harris Flanagin, who was chosen at the general election held on October 6, 1862. Fletcher's tenure of the office as acting governor was by virtue of his position as president of the Arkansas Senate.[1]

Later life and death

After the reconstruction period ended in Arkansas, he represented the 16th district in the Arkansas Senate. In 1878 he began the practice of the law at Little Rock, Arkansas, but his career was soon afterward terminated by his death at age 62,[1] on February 26, 1880, at Little Rock, due to complications from pneumonia.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Evans, Clement A., ed. (1899). Confederate Military History. Vol. I. Atlanta, Ga.: Confederate Publishing Company. p. 717. LCCN 02017198. OL 7023000M – via Internet Archive.
  2. ^ "Passed Away". Arkansas Democrat. Vol. V, no. 123. Little Rock. February 26, 1880. p. 1.

Further reading