1. Ryland Fletcher was an American farmer, politician, the 20th lieutenant governor of Vermont from 1854 to 1856, and then was the 24th governor of Vermont from October 10,1856, to October 10,1858.
19 Facts About Ryland Fletcher
1. 2.
Ryland Fletcher attended the local schools of Cavendish and worked on his father's farm.
3.
Ryland Fletcher attended Norwich University while teaching school, and graduated in 1824.
4.
In 1817, Ryland Fletcher became a member of the Vermont state militia.
5.
Ryland Fletcher was almost immediately promoted to sergeant, and he continued to advance through the ranks, becoming a first lieutenant in 1818 and a captain in 1820.
6.
Ryland Fletcher was promoted to major in 1826 and lieutenant colonel in 1828.
7.
In 1830, Ryland Fletcher was promoted to colonel as commander of 3rd Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division.
8.
Ryland Fletcher was promoted to brigadier general in 1835 as commander of the brigade, and he served until resigning his commission in 1836.
9.
Ryland Fletcher was the owner and operator of his family's Cavendish farm, which included horse and cattle breeding.
10.
Ryland Fletcher was a noted anti-slavery and temperance advocate, and changed his party affiliation as the anti-slavery movement grew and coalesced from the 1830s to the 1850s, moving from the National Republican Party to the Whigs, Liberty Party, Know Nothing Party, Free Soil Party, and Republican Party.
11.
Ryland Fletcher was a leader of the Vermont State Temperance Society and the Vermont Anti-Slavery Society, and was known to be active with the Underground Railroad.
12.
In 1851, Ryland Fletcher was the unsuccessful Free Soil nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Vermont.
13.
In 1854, Ryland Fletcher was the successful lieutenant governor nominee of a coalition that included the Whig, Free Soil and Liberty Parties.
14.
Ryland Fletcher was a strong proponent of biennial rather than annual gubernatorial elections and was a tireless worker for the anti-slavery and temperance causes.
15.
Ryland Fletcher received the honorary degree of Master of Arts from Dartmouth in 1869.
16.
Ryland Fletcher was a member of the State Constitutional Convention in 1870.
17.
Ryland Fletcher died in Cavendish, and is interred at Cavendish Village Cemetery, Cavendish, Vermont.
18.
Ryland Fletcher married Mary May on June 11,1829, and they had three children.
19.
Ryland Fletcher was the brother of United States Representative Richard Fletcher and Horace Fletcher; and the father of Henry Addison Fletcher, who served in the Union Army during the Civil War, as a state senator, and as Lieutenant Governor of Vermont.