Politician. Fletcher of Saltoun was taught by Gilbert Burnet, who later described him as ‘a most violent republican and extremely passionate’. He represented East Lothian at the convention of estates and in the Scottish Parliament and was in strong opposition to Lauderdale and James, duke of York (later James II). From 1682 he was in exile in Holland. After the Glorious Revolution he returned to Scotland but was soon in opposition to William III. Returned to Parliament again in 1703, he became a prominent opposition speaker. He was violently opposed to the Act of Union, proposing a separation of the crowns instead.