Robert John Fleming

Who was Robert John Fleming?

Robert John Fleming was Governor of the Panama Canal Zone from 1962 to 1967 although his largely successful tenure was marred in 1964 by the issue over whether the Panamanian Flag should be flown alongside the Panama Canal Zone Flag on public buildings. This issue escalated while he was on a political trip to the United States and on 9 January 1964 riots broke out across the country that left at least 25 people dead including three U.S. soldiers.

Born in Fort Robinson Nebraska on the 13 January 1907 to Robert John and Augusta Fleming, Fleming attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1928 before earning an M.S. in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1931. He remained in the United States Army as an engineering officer until 1954, his World War II service including duty in the Pacific Theater before a series of staff posts in Washington D.C. and Virginia. After a period in public service that included a three year sojourn in public service in France, Fleming was appointed by President John F. Kennedy as Governor of the Panama Canal Zone in 1962.