Fletcher Webster

Colonel Fletcher Webster
Colonel Fletcher Webster

Daniel Fletcher Webster, commonly known as Fletcher Webster (July 25, 1818 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire – August 30, 1862) was the son of renowned politician Daniel Webster and Grace Fletcher Webster. He was educated at Harvard College.[1] During his father's first term as Secretary of State, Fletcher served as Chief Clerk of the United States State Department which, at the time, was the second most powerful office in the State Department. As Chief Clerk, he delivered the news of President William Henry Harrison's death to the new President, John Tyler.

During the Civil War, Webster served as colonel of the 12th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The unit was known in the Army of the Potomac as "The Webster Regiment" in honor of their commander. While reinforcing Union forces attempting to repel Longstreet's counterattack, Webster was mortally wounded on Chinn Ridge in defense of Henry House Hill in the Second Battle of Bull Run on August 30, 1862. A memorial boulder stands in Manassas National Battlefield Park in Colonel Webster's honor. A memorial to the Webster Regiment stands in Gettysburg National Park. Webster graduated Boston Latin School circa 1829 and Harvard in the class of 1833. He is memorialized on the marble PRO PATRIA shield in the lobby of the Boston Latin School. Fletcher Webster married Caroline S. White on 11 November 1836. They raised two sons, Daniel (April 1840 - 2 September 1865) and Ashburton (7 December 1847 - 7 February 1879), and four daughters but three died in childhood. His third daughter Caroline W. Webster (24 October 1845 - 16 August 1884) married James Geddes Day.[2]

[3]

References

  1. ↑ Appletons' annual cyclopaedia and register of important events of the year: 1862. New York: D. Appleton & Company. 1863. p. 671.
  2. ↑ http://www.ourfamtree.org/browse.php/Fletcher-Webster/p523651
  3. ↑ History of the Twelfth Massachusetts Volunteers by Benjamin F. Cook, page 159

Bibliography

  • "Fletcher Webster". Find a Grave. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  • Brief of Fletcher Webster
Chief Clerk of the State Department Fletcher Webster delivering the news of President William H. Harrison's death to the new President, John Tyler.
Preceded by
Jacob L. Martin		 Chief Clerk of the United States State Department
March 6, 1841 – April 23, 1843		 Succeeded by
William S. Derrick

[1]

  1. ↑ History of the Twelfth Massachusetts Volunteers (Webster Regiment) by Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin F. Cook page 159.
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