Fletcher Webster
Daniel Fletcher Webster, commonly known as Fletcher Webster, was the son of renowned politician Daniel Webster and Grace Fletcher Webster. He was educated at Harvard College. 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.
Webster graduated Boston Latin School circa 1829 and Harvard in the class of 1833.
Fletcher Webster married Caroline S. White on November 11, 1836. They raised two sons, Daniel and Ashburton, and four daughters but three died in childhood. His third daughter Caroline W. Webster married James Geddes Day.
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. He is also memorialized on the marble PRO PATRIA shield in the lobby of the Boston Latin School.
