James Cooley Fletcher (1823-1901)

James Cooley Fletcher was an American Presbyterian minister who also served as a missionary in South America, particularly in Brazil. He travelled extensively throughout Brazil and in 1867 he co-wrote a book on the country and its people. He befriended the Emperor Dom Pedro and also influenced Brazilian politicians to bring about several socio-economic reforms in the country. After several trips to Brazil over a period of almost 20 years he was nominated consul at Oporto in Portugal and later worked as a missionary in Naples. 

"Whittier [is] the only author that I ever heard my friend

Mr Long-fellow praise"

There are two letters written by James Cooley Fletcher in the Sampson Low Collection. In this seven-page personal letter to Sampson Low written in January 1870, he writes about the three bottles of wine he sent for the Lows' 50th wedding anniversary. He explains that they have been sent to the author and diplomat John Lothrop Motley (1814-1877) at the American Embassy for collection.

In his letter, Fletcher also refers to the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Rev James Hamilton (author of hyms). In praise of the Lows' Golden Wedding he includes one of John Greenleaf Whittier's psalms titled 'My Psalm'.

View James Cooley Fletcher's letter [opens in a new window]