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Henry Prather Fletcher Diplomat, Statesman and Rough Rider
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| Henry Prather Fletcher was born and raised in Greencastle, rode with Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders and served 51 years under eight presidents as a United States diplomat and statesman to six foreign countries. He was also Chairman of the National Republican Committee and invited President Herbert C. Hoover, as his guest, to Rosemont in Greencastle. |
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Front view of the mansion house built in 1872 by Judge David Watson Rowe (pronounced "row"). It was located near South Ridge Avenue; the front faced South Allison Street with Rowe and Addison Avenues on the north and south. The estate, a block square, was surrounded by a six-foot high, honeysuckle-covered wire fence. A driveway wound around a golfing green in the center of the lawn. Rosemont was also the Greencastle residence of Henry Prather Fletcher - diplomat, statesman, Rough Rider and nephew of Judge Rowe. |
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Henry P. Fletcher, retiring Ambassador to Italy, (in white suit) among other native sons of Greencastle during Old Home Week 1929. Left to right: H. Watson Davison, D. Watson Fletcher, Watson R. Snively, the Ambassador, Judge Watson R. Davison, Harry P. Kreps, J. Gilmore Fletcher, Charles W. Gaff, Charles W. Davison, Dr. J. Rowe Snively. |
Events in the Life of Henry Prather Fletcher
1873 Born in Greencastle
1889 Graduated from the Chambersburg Academy
1894 Admitted to the Franklin County Bar
1898 Enlisted as Private in Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders
1901 Enlisted and served in the 40th U. S. Inf. in the Phillipines
1902 Under Secretary of U. S. Legation at Havannah, Cuba**
1903 Second Secretary of Legation in China**
1905 Secretary of Legation in Portugal**
1907 First Secretary of Legation in China**
1910 Ambassador to Chile*
1916 Ambassador to Mexico*. Resigned in discussed in 1920
1917 Married Beatrice Bend whom he met in China
1921 First Secretary of State to Charles Evans Hughes
1921 Purchased Rosemont estate in Greencastle
1922 Ambassador to Belgium*
1924 Ambassador to Italy* during Mussolini's dictatorship
1928 Along with Calvin Coolidge to Pan American Games in Havannah
1929 Along with Herbert Hoover went visiting South America
1929 Herbert Hoover weekend guest at Rosemont
1930 Named as Advisor of Commission to natives of Haiti
1930 Named Chairman of U. S. Tariff Commission
1934 Chairman of the National Republican Committee
1936 Nomination for President of United States considered.
1937 Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher register as citizens of Rhode Island
1941 Mrs. Fletcher dies at Rosemont
1944 Delegate to the Dumbarton Oaks Program
1945 Advisor to Secretary of State at Brenton Wood Conference
1952 Parliamentarian to the National Republican Committee
1959 Died in his Newport, Rhode Island home
Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher are interred in Arlington National Cemetery.
Fletcher served 51 years under eight presidents as a US ambassador to four countries and held various secretarial positions with legations to three other countries.
The presidents under whom he served are:
Theodore Roosevelt
William Taft
Woodrow Wilson
Warren Harding
Calvin Coolidge
Herbert Hoover
Franklin Roosevelt
Harry Truman
* The four countries to which he served as ambassador are:
Chile
Mexico
Belgium
Italy
** The three countries to which he served in a secretarial position with a legation are:
Cuba
China
Portugal