Robert Fletcher (North Carolina politician)
Robert Fletcher (1815-1885) was a Reconstruction era politician in North Carolina who served in the North Carolina House of Representatives.[1] He served his community in other positions including being a sub-elector and a county commissioner.
Robert Fletcher | |
|---|---|
| North Carolina House of Representatives | |
| In office 1870–1874 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1815 North Carolina |
| Died | 1885 (aged 69–70) |
| Political party | Radical Republicans |
Biography
editFletcher was born in 1815 in North Carolina and was an African American of Congo descent[2] and described as literate.[1]
He was elected in April 1868 to serve as commissioner for Richmond County.[3] Later that year in October he was appointed as a Republican sub-elector for the county.[4] He served on the Pitt County Board of Assessors in 1869 and then as the Richmond County commissioner the following year in 1870.[1]
A convention of the Richmond County Republicans in July 1870 nominated Fletcher to run for the house.[5] H. S. Wade stood as an independent Radical against him.[6] Before the election it was reported that Fletcher was in favor of impeaching governor William Woods Holden.[7] Fletcher was elected to serve in the North Carolina House of Representatives in September 1870.[8] At the start of 1872 he co-signed a letter by governor Tod Robinson Caldwell printed in the newspapers to discourage the Colored people of North Carolina from being tempted by offers of work in other states.[9] He stood and was successfully re-elected in 1972[10] but failed reelection when he stood for the final time in 1974.[11] He kept involved in politics including attending the Richmond County Republican Conventions and giving a speech at the 1876 event.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Foner, Eric (1 August 1996). Freedom’s Lawmakers: A Directory of Black Officeholders During Reconstruction. LSU Press. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-8071-2082-8. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Robert Fletcher - Republican convention in Richmond County Jul 1870". Wilmington Journal. 1 July 1870. p. 3. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Official: Headquarters Second Military District". The Daily Standard. 21 May 1868. p. 2. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Third District: Sub-Electors". The Weekly Standard. 21 October 1868. p. 3. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Richmond County". The Charlotte Democrat. 5 July 1870. p. 2. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "1870 Robert Fletcher running against H.S.Wade". The Eagle. 7 July 1870. p. 2. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Robert Fletcher favors Holder Impeachment". The Tarborough Southerner. 1 September 1870. p. 1. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Members of the State Legislature". The People's Press. 2 September 1870. p. 3. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "To the Colored People of North Carolina". Tri-Weekly Era. 20 January 1872. p. 2. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "The Next House of Representatives". The Raleigh News. 12 September 1872. p. 1. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "The Richmond Radicals". The Daily Journal. 14 June 1874. p. 4. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Victory Assured! Richmond County Republican Convention". Spirit of the South. 9 September 1876. p. 1. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
