| Robert Stockwell Hatcher | |
| Office: | Reading Clerk of the United States House of Representatives |
| Term Start: | 1895 |
| Term End: | 1897 |
| Predecessor: | James C. Broadwell |
| Successor: | Dennis E. Alward |
| Birth Date: | 15 February 1865 |
| Birth Place: | Lafayette, Indiana, US |
| Death Date: | (aged 38) |
| Death Place: | St Louis, Missouri, US |
| Party: | Republican |
| Spouse: | Georgia Stockton |
| Education: | George Washington University |
Robert Stockwell Hatcher (February 15, 1865–September 14, 1903) was an American government official, lawyer, and historian who served as the reading clerk of the United States House of Representatives during the 54th United States Congress from 1895 to 1897.
Robert Stockwell Hatcher was born on February 15, 1865, in Lafayette, Indiana, to a prominent local and wealthy family. This enabled him to spend much of his youth abroad, studying in various European countries, including Italy, France, and Germany. Throughout this period, Hatcher became fluent in the respective languages of these countries.[1]
Hatcher remained abroad until the death of his mother, Sarah Early Hatcher, in 1883, studying at Columbia College (now George Washington University). He was admitted to the bar two years later, in his hometown of Lafayette in 1885.
Following the death of Hatcher's father, he inherited $250,000, making Hatcher a wealthy man for his time. During Hatcher's earlier years abroad, he utilized large sums of money to amass a private collection of books and artifacts, squandering much of the inherited wealth.[2]
On April 22, 1889, Hatcher married Georgia Stockton.[3] Stockton later became instrumental in establishing The General de Lafayette Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, serving as the regent of the chapter. Stockton died in Chicago in 1903.[4]
During his life, Hatcher served as an honorary vice-president of the Indiana Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and additionally as a member of the Huguenot Society of America.
Hatcher served as the reading clerk in the Indiana State Senate.[5] Due to this role, he was nominated by the entire Indiana Republican delegation of the United States House of Representatives to serve as the next reading clerk of the House of Representatives.
On December 16, Hatcher's appointment as the reading clerk of the United States House of Representatives was confirmed by Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Thomas Brackett Reed. Hatcher served alongside the former lieutenant governor of Ohio Elbert L. Lampson, who was appointed the day prior to him.
In 1899, Hatcher was appointed by the secretary of the interior as an assistant chief of division in the general land office. The same year, Hatcher was also appointed by the secretary of war as a "translator of languages for the War Department in the Bureau of Insular Affairs". His office in the War Department was later transferred to that of the chief signal officer of the Army.
In 1900, Hatcher was then appointed as part of the United States Commission to the Exposition Universelle (1900).
Prior to his death, Hatcher served as a clerk with the Exposition Company.
Hatcher committed suicide in the Planters Hotel in St. Louis on September 14, 1903, shortly after learning of the death of his wife, Georgia Stockton in Chicago. He was returned to his hometown of Lafayette for burial.