Benjamin Fletcher

Benjamin Fletcher
Governor of the Province of New York
In office
1692–1697
MonarchWilliam III
Preceded byRichard Ingoldesby
Succeeded byThe Earl of Bellomont
Governor of the Province of Pennsylvania
In office
April 1693 – 1693
MonarchWilliam III
Preceded byWilliam Markham
Succeeded byWilliam Markham
Personal details
Born(1640-05-14)14 May 1640
London, England
Died28 May 1703(1703-05-28) (aged 63)
Boyle, Ireland
SpouseElizabeth Hodson
Parent(s)William Fletcher
Abigail Vincent
Signature

Benjamin Fletcher (14 May 1640 – 28 May 1703)[1] was colonial governor of New York from 1692 to 1697. Fletcher was known for the Ministry Act of 1693, which secured the place of Anglicans as the official religion in New York. He also built the first Trinity Church in 1698.[2][3]

Under Col. Fletcher, piracy was a leading economic development tool in the city's competition with the ports of Boston and Philadelphia. New York City had become a safe place for pirates. Fletcher was eventually fired for his association with piracy.[4]

  1. ^ "Fletcher, Benjamin, 1640 – 1703". nativenortheastportal.com. Native Northeast Portal. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
  2. ^ Lankevich, George J. (2002). New York City: A Short History. NYU Press. p. 30. ISBN 9780814751862.
  3. ^ Klein, Milton M. (1 November 2005). The Empire State: A History of New York. Cornell University Press. p. 130. ISBN 978-0801489914.
  4. ^ "New York Today: A New Home for Very Old Things". 17 July 2014.