Fletcher Andrew

Fletcher, Andrew (1653-1716), a notable Scottish politician, was the son of Sir Robert Fletcher, of Saltoun. After much foreign travel he returned to Scotland, and represented Midlothian in the Scottish Parliament. Owing to his opposition to the Court party he found it advisable to leave the country, and went to Holland, and was outlawed on his refusal to appear before the Council. In the reign of James II. he returned under the Act of Indulgence, of which, however, he disapproved on principle as being granted by the king's own prerogative and not by Parliament. In 1683 he was in England, joining in measures against James II., and in 1685 he took part in Monmouth's rising, but, luckily perhaps for himself, was dismissed in consequence of killing another of the Duke's adherents in a duel. He then went to Spain, and afterwards to Hungary, where he fought against the Turks. He then went again to the Netherlands, and in 1688 came over with William III., and got back his forfeited estates, and was a member of the Convention for settling the affairs of Scotland. In Queen Anne's reign he was active against the exercise of the royal prerogative and in measures for settling.the demise of the Crown, and he was a strong opponent of the Union of England and Scotland. He wrote, in 1696, a Discourse on Militias, in which he advocated universal military training; and he left two discourses on the affairs of Scotland. He was author, too, of a proposal that beggars should be made slaves, under the name of servants, and should be alienable.