ALLEN M. FLETCHER was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was educated at the Swedenborgian School in Waltham, Massachusetts and at Williston Seminary in Easthampton, Massachusetts. In addition to traveling widely in North and South American and Europe, Fletcher had diverse business interests in Indiana. In 1881 he built a summer home in Proctorsville, Vermont. In 1899 he moved to New York City, becoming a member of the Stock Exchange. Six years later he retired to spend time in Vermont, where he had already served in both the state House of Representatives and the state Senate. He served again in the House and in 1908 was a member of a commission established to recommend changes in the State Constitution. Although an Independent, he was nominated by the Republican Party for governor in 1912. Since no candidate won a majority of the vote, the race was decided by the state legislature, which chose Fletcher. Fletcher appointed the first woman to the state Board of Education. He also sought, but failed, to win approval for the abolition of capital punishment. After leaving office, he went on to wage an unsuccessful campaign for a seat in the U.S. Senate.