Thomas Fletcher (Arkansas politician)

For other people named Thomas Fletcher, see Thomas Fletcher (disambiguation).

Thomas Fletcher
Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 16th district
In office November 10, 1874 – January 8, 1877
Preceded by	New constituency
Succeeded by	M. M. Duffie
11th President of the Arkansas Senate
In office November 1, 1858 – March 14, 1864 In exile March 14, 1864 – May 28, 1865
Preceded by	John R. Hampton
Succeeded by	C. C. Bliss
Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 18th district
In office November 1, 1858 – March 14, 1864 In exile March 14, 1864 – May 28, 1865
Preceded by	A. H. Ferguson
Succeeded by	I. C. Mills
Acting Governor of Arkansas
In office November 4, 1862 – November 15, 1862
Preceded by	Henry M. Rector
Succeeded by	Harris Flanagin
Personal details
Born	(1817-04-08)April 8, 1817 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Resting place	Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Harriett C. Cage (m. 1841)
Parents	Thomas H. Fletcher Sarah G. Fletcher
Alma mater	University of Nashville

Thomas Fletcher (8 April 1817 – 26 February 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.

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.

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, on February 26, 1880, at Little Rock, due to complications from pneumonia.

See also

• List of burials at Mount Holly Cemetery
• List of Freemasons
• List of governors of Arkansas
• List of people from Nashville, Tennessee
• List of pneumonia victims

External links

• Thomas Fletcher at Find a Grave

Arkansas Senate
Preceded by A. H. Ferguson	Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 18th district 1858–1864 In exile 1864–1865	Succeeded by I. C. Mills
Preceded by John R. Hampton	President of the Arkansas Senate 1858–1864 In exile 1864–1865	Succeeded by C. C. Bliss
New constituency	Member of the Arkansas Senate from the 16th district 1874–1877	Succeeded by M. M. Duffie
Political offices
Preceded by Henry M. Rector	Governor of Arkansas Acting 1862	Succeeded by Harris Flanagin