Andrew Fletcher: Political Works

by Andrew Fletcher, John Robertson (Editor)

This is the first complete modern edition of the political works of Andrew Fletcher (1655-1716), one of the most acute observers of the European political order of his time and an important forerunner of the Scottish Enlightenment. Famous for his opposition to the Union with England in 1707, he viewed the problems of his own country in the light of a much broader knowledge of European affairs. His writings illustrate the long influence of Machiavelli on European political thought, and illuminates the major themes of the Enlightenment.

Genres: Politics

300 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 1997

About the author

Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun (1653 - 1716) was a Scottish writer, politician and patriot. He was a Commissioner of the old Parliament of Scotland and opposed the 1707 Act of Union between Scotland and England.

He was the son and heir of Sir Robert Fletcher (1625 - 1664), and was born at Saltoun in Haddingtonshire. Educated by Gilbert Burnet, the future Bishop of Salisbury, who was then minister at Saltoun, he completed his education in mainland Europe. Fletcher was elected, as the Commissioner for Haddingtonshire, to the Scottish Parliament in 1678.

At this time, Charles II's representative in Scotland was John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale. The Duke had taxation powers in Scotland, and maintained a standing army there in the name of the King. Fletcher bitterly opposed the Duke, whose actions only strengthened Fletcher's distrust of the royal government in Scotland, as well as all hereditary power.

Reviews

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this in my local library a while back. It’s divided into two discourses, one in Spain and her empire, the other on Scotland and the union of Great Britain. Both works were published shortly before the Act of Union and are very interesting insights into political commentary in the late 17th and very early 18th centuries.