The son of Rev
Robert Fleming, he was born in the manse at
Cambuslang in
Lanarkshire in 1660. His early education was at the school of his uncle Rev John Sinclair, minister of
Ormiston,
Haddingtonshire. In 1679 his father took him to Holland, where he studied at the universities of
Leyden and
Utrecht. On 9 February 1688 he was privately ordained by Scottish ministers in Holland, without special charge. Fleming moved to England, and was domestic chaplain in a private family for about four years. In 1692 he accepted a call to the pastorate of the English presbyterian congregation at Leyden. On his father's death he was invited to succeed him in the
Scots Church at Rotterdam, to which he was inducted in 1695. In 1698 Fleming received a call to the Scots Church, Founders' Hall, Lothbury, supported by
William Carstares and
William III, who had known him in Holland. Fleming began his ministry there on 19 June 1698. The meeting-house was rebuilt for him about 1700. His position was influential: William III consulted him on the ecclesiastical affairs of Scotland, and he had good relations with Archbishop
Thomas Tenison. Through the influence of a kinsman,
John, Lord Carmichael, secretary of state for Scotland, he had the offer of the principalship of
Glasgow University, but he declined. On 15 May 1701 Fleming succeeded
Vincent Alsop as one of the Tuesday lecturers at
Salters' Hall, a lectureship which represented the liberal side in the Calvinistic controversy. On 7 May 1707 he was the spokesman of the London ministers of the "three denominations" in presenting an address of congratulation to
Queen Anne on the union with Scotland. A serious illness laid Fleming aside for a time. On his recovery he paid a visit to Holland, where he took part in political negotiations in the Protestant interest. He returned, shortly before the accession of
George I of Great Britain. He died on 21 May 1716.
Joshua Oldfield preached his funeral sermon. He left a widow and several children. ==Works==