The third son of Henry Hatcher and Mary Latham Hatcher. He was a first cousin of Dr. Jeremiah Bell Jeter and was born in the same room of the same house. He graduated Richmond College in 1858 with the Bachelor of Arts degree. He was baptized at Otter Creek by William Harris. He was ordained at Mount Hermon Baptist Church in Bedford County in 1857. He held pastorates in Manchester, Baltimore and Petersburg. His best work was at Grace Street Baptist Church in Richmond. He was a great preacher with a commanding presence. He was a gifted leader and talented writer. He preached for 26 years at Grace Street Baptist Church and was there during the Civil War when Richmond was very much involved. He was a trustee at Richmond College for five years and then became interested in Fork Union Academy in Fluvanna County, Va. He sold his home at 608 West Grace Street in Richmond and moved to Careby Hall at Fork Union where he made his home the rest of his days. The Academy became an institution of real influence and service under his care. In 1864 he married Oranie Virginia Snead. They had nine children, six reaching maturity. His early life was spent in the mountains of Virginia, where he acquired a taste for substantial reading. He taught school from seventeen to twenty, then went from Bedford county to Richmond College, graduating in 1858 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts; in 1873 Richmond College conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity; in 1898 he received from Denison University, Ohio, the degree of Doctor of Laws. Leaving Richmond College in 1858, he entered upon the active ministry, taking the following pastorates in the order and for the periods indicated: Bainbridge Street Baptist Church, Manchester, eight years; Franklin Square Baptist Church, Baltimore, nearly two years; First Baptist Church, Petersburg, six and one half years; Grace Street Baptist Church, Richmond, twenty-six years. Two houses of worship were built and paid for under the leadership of Dr. Hatcher. He resigned his pastorate to conduct a campaign for the endowment of Richmond College, and his term of service in this work ended in April, 1906. He has delivered many lectures, addresses and special sermons, and has contributed continuously to the public press as editor and correspondent of various denominational papers. Within the few years prior to 1906, under his wise and inspiring leadership, Fork Union Academy was founded. Dr. Hatcher served as president of the board of trustees of Richmond College, member of the board of trustees of the Southern Baptist Theological seminary, president of the Virginia Baptist orphanage trustees, and president of the education board of the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Among some of his published articles are: "Biography of Dr. J. B. Jeter," acknowledged leader of Virginia Baptists; and a work on John Jasper, the most extraordinary orator of the negro race. Dr. Hatcher married, December 22, 1864, Virginia O. Snead, of Fluvanna county, Virginia.