Redfield Proctor
Encyclopedia
Redfield Proctor was a U.S.
politician
of the Republican Party. He served as the 37th Governor of Vermont from 1878 to 1880, as Secretary of War
from 1889 to 1891, and as a United States Senator
for Vermont from 1891 to 1908.
Proctor was a native of Proctorsville (a village, named after his family, in the town of Cavendish
) in Windsor County, Vermont. His father, Jabez Proctor, was a farmer, merchant, and prominent local Whig
politician.
After graduating from Dartmouth College
in 1851, Redfield Proctor returned to Proctorsville, where he became first a businessman, and later a lawyer. He married Emily Jane Dutton in 1858, and moved to Boston two years later. Of their five children, four survived: Arabella G., Fletcher D.
, Redfield Jr.
, and Emily D. He was initiated into Delta Upsilon Fraternity as an honorary member by the Middlebury Chapter.
Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War
in 1861 he returned to Vermont and enlisted in the 3d Vermont Regiment, was commissioned as lieutenant and quartermaster, and repaired to the front. In July of the same year he was appointed on the staff of General William F. ("Baldy") Smith
, and in October was promoted and transferred to the 5th Vermont Volunteers, of which he was commissioned major. With this regiment he served nearly a year in the neighborhood of Washington and on the Peninsula. In October 1862, Major Proctor was promoted to the colonelcy of the 15th Vermont Volunteers, and participated in the Gettysburg Campaign
, but was stationed in the rear and did not participate in the battle.
After being mustered out of military service in 1863, Proctor initially returned to practicing law, this time in Rutland, Vermont. He entered into law partnership with Wheelock G. Veazey. In 1869, he entered business again, taking a job as a manager in the Sutherland Falls Marble Company. In 1880, this company merged with another to become the Vermont Marble Company, over which Proctor served as president. Six years later, the area containing the company's marble quarries, locally known as Sutherland Falls, was split into a separate town, called Proctor
.
During these years, Proctor began his political career. In 1866 he became a selectman of the town of Rutland. In 1867 he represented his town in the state Legislature, serving as chairman of the committee on elections of the lower House. Again a member of the House in 1868, he served as a member of the committee on ways and means. Elected to the state Senate in 1874, he was chosen president pro tempore of that body. In 1876 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor of the state, and in 1878 was nominated by the Republicans and elected Governor of Vermont.
Proctor remained active in state politics after stepping down as governor. He was delegate-at-large to the Republican National Convention
in 1884, and also in 1888. In the latter year he was chairman of the Vermont delegation, and seconded the presidential nomination of Benjamin Harrison
.
In 1888 the Vermont legislature unanimously recommended him for a cabinet position, and in March 1889, Harrison chose Proctor to be his Secretary of War
. At the War Department, Proctor made a mark with his managerial skill and reforming zeal, with which he modernized the Army and improved the living conditions of enlisted soldiers.
Proctor left the War Department in November 1891 to become a United States Senator, filling a vacancy caused by resignation. As a Senator he served as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee to Establish a University of the United States from 1891 to 1893. He remained a Senator for the rest of his life, and was an effective advocate in the Senate for high tariffs and the gold standard, as well as an influence on the military policies of the McKinley
and Theodore Roosevelt
administrations.
Proctor died in Washington, D.C.
.
Two of Proctor's children, Fletcher D. Proctor
and Redfield Proctor, Jr.
, served as Governors of Vermont. Aaron Proctor is a distant relative.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
of the Republican Party. He served as the 37th Governor of Vermont from 1878 to 1880, as Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
from 1889 to 1891, and as a United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
for Vermont from 1891 to 1908.
Proctor was a native of Proctorsville (a village, named after his family, in the town of Cavendish
Cavendish, Vermont
Cavendish is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. The town was named after William Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire. The population was 1,470 at the 2000 census...
) in Windsor County, Vermont. His father, Jabez Proctor, was a farmer, merchant, and prominent local Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
politician.
After graduating from Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
in 1851, Redfield Proctor returned to Proctorsville, where he became first a businessman, and later a lawyer. He married Emily Jane Dutton in 1858, and moved to Boston two years later. Of their five children, four survived: Arabella G., Fletcher D.
Fletcher D. Proctor
Fletcher Dutton Proctor , born in Cavendish, Windsor County, Vermont, was a Republican member of the Vermont House of Representatives and the 51st Governor of Vermont, from 1906 to 1908....
, Redfield Jr.
Redfield Proctor, Jr.
Redfield Proctor, Jr. was a U.S. politician who served as the 59th Governor of Vermont from 1923 to 1925.He was born and lived his entire life in Rutland County, Vermont. His father, Redfield Proctor, was a prominent politician.-External links:...
, and Emily D. He was initiated into Delta Upsilon Fraternity as an honorary member by the Middlebury Chapter.
Upon the outbreak of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in 1861 he returned to Vermont and enlisted in the 3d Vermont Regiment, was commissioned as lieutenant and quartermaster, and repaired to the front. In July of the same year he was appointed on the staff of General William F. ("Baldy") Smith
William Farrar Smith
William Farrar Smith , was a civil engineer, a member of the New York City police commission, and Union general in the American Civil War.-Early life:...
, and in October was promoted and transferred to the 5th Vermont Volunteers, of which he was commissioned major. With this regiment he served nearly a year in the neighborhood of Washington and on the Peninsula. In October 1862, Major Proctor was promoted to the colonelcy of the 15th Vermont Volunteers, and participated in the Gettysburg Campaign
Gettysburg Campaign
The Gettysburg Campaign was a series of battles fought in June and July 1863, during the American Civil War. After his victory in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia moved north for offensive operations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The...
, but was stationed in the rear and did not participate in the battle.
After being mustered out of military service in 1863, Proctor initially returned to practicing law, this time in Rutland, Vermont. He entered into law partnership with Wheelock G. Veazey. In 1869, he entered business again, taking a job as a manager in the Sutherland Falls Marble Company. In 1880, this company merged with another to become the Vermont Marble Company, over which Proctor served as president. Six years later, the area containing the company's marble quarries, locally known as Sutherland Falls, was split into a separate town, called Proctor
Proctor, Vermont
-Notable people:* Bernard Joseph Flanagan, bishop* F. Ray Keyser, governor of Vermont* Frank Charles Partridge, senator* Fletcher Dutton Proctor, governor of Vermont* Mortimer Robinson Proctor, governor of Vermont...
.
During these years, Proctor began his political career. In 1866 he became a selectman of the town of Rutland. In 1867 he represented his town in the state Legislature, serving as chairman of the committee on elections of the lower House. Again a member of the House in 1868, he served as a member of the committee on ways and means. Elected to the state Senate in 1874, he was chosen president pro tempore of that body. In 1876 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor of the state, and in 1878 was nominated by the Republicans and elected Governor of Vermont.
Proctor remained active in state politics after stepping down as governor. He was delegate-at-large to the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
in 1884, and also in 1888. In the latter year he was chairman of the Vermont delegation, and seconded the presidential nomination of Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
.
In 1888 the Vermont legislature unanimously recommended him for a cabinet position, and in March 1889, Harrison chose Proctor to be his Secretary of War
United States Secretary of War
The Secretary of War was a member of the United States President's Cabinet, beginning with George Washington's administration. A similar position, called either "Secretary at War" or "Secretary of War," was appointed to serve the Congress of the Confederation under the Articles of Confederation...
. At the War Department, Proctor made a mark with his managerial skill and reforming zeal, with which he modernized the Army and improved the living conditions of enlisted soldiers.
Proctor left the War Department in November 1891 to become a United States Senator, filling a vacancy caused by resignation. As a Senator he served as chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee to Establish a University of the United States from 1891 to 1893. He remained a Senator for the rest of his life, and was an effective advocate in the Senate for high tariffs and the gold standard, as well as an influence on the military policies of the McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
and Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
administrations.
Proctor died in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
.
Two of Proctor's children, Fletcher D. Proctor
Fletcher D. Proctor
Fletcher Dutton Proctor , born in Cavendish, Windsor County, Vermont, was a Republican member of the Vermont House of Representatives and the 51st Governor of Vermont, from 1906 to 1908....
and Redfield Proctor, Jr.
Redfield Proctor, Jr.
Redfield Proctor, Jr. was a U.S. politician who served as the 59th Governor of Vermont from 1923 to 1925.He was born and lived his entire life in Rutland County, Vermont. His father, Redfield Proctor, was a prominent politician.-External links:...
, served as Governors of Vermont. Aaron Proctor is a distant relative.