[1] Fletcher was educated at Silcoates School in Yorkshire, and in 1849 entered the University of Bonn, followed in 1850 by the Lancashire Independent College[4] and Owens College (later Victoria University, Manchester).
He soon sailed for Sydney and ultimately went to Victoria where he acted as his father's assistant in St Kilda and Sandhurst (now Bendigo).
In 1866 he removed to Richmond, Melbourne, and was appointed a professor at the Congregational College of Victoria.
[1] After a tour around the world he became the minister of Stow Memorial Church in Adelaide in March 1876, and filled that position with marked success until 1890, when he resigned to undertake further travel.
[1] During the last illness of Professor Davidson, and subsequent to his death, Fletcher was the acting Hughes Professor of English Language and Literature and Mental and Moral Philosophy.