Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/447

 PROCTOR

PROCTOR

Regents and the University of the State of Neio York (1886). He revised and annotated JabezD. Hammond's "Political History of the State of New York," continuing it from 1844 to 1887, and published many addresses, two notable ones being: Aaron Burr's Political Career Defended (1885), and John C. Spencer's Legal and Political Career (1886). He died in Albany, N.Y., April 1, 1900.

PROCTOR, Mary, astronomer, was born in Dublin, Ireland ; daughter of Richard A. and Mary (Mills) Proctor, and granddaughter of Wil- liam Proctor, a solicitor of Chelsea, England. Her father (1837-1888), St. John's college, Cam- bridge, England, 1860, was a famous astronomer, author and lecturer, and founded and edited Knowledge, a scientific periodical, in 1881. Mary Proctor received a liberal education, and as her father's constant companion from childhood, be- came deeply interested in his books, beginning to write on astronomical subjects under his direc- tion. The family removed to the United States in 1886, settling in New York city, and Miss Proc- tor continued her writing, making a specialty of books for children, and eventual!}' becoming widely known as the "children's astronomer." She made her first appearance as a lecturer at the Chicago exposition in 1893, where she won immediate popularity. She subsequently gave annual courses of free lectures to the general public in New York city under the auspices of the board of education ; was lecturer in various New York private schools, and conducted tours throughout the principal cities of the United States and Canada. She was a member of the scientific expedition to Bodo, Norway, which was organized to observe the total eclipse of the sun, Aug. 8, 1896, and gave daily talks on as- tronomy on board the steam yacht Ohio, char- tered for the trip. She edited the scientific de- partment of Popidar Astronomy; and was a member of the American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science, and the National Scientific club of Washington, D.C. She is the author of : Stories of Starland (1898), and contributions to several leading magazines and scientific publica- tions.

PROCTOR, Redfield, cabinet officer, was born in Proctorsville, Vt., June 1, 1831 ; son of Jabez and Betsy (Parker) Proctor ; grandson of Leon- ard and IMary (Keep) Proctor, and of Isaac and Bridget (Fletcher) Parker, and a direct descend- ant from Robert Proctor, one of four brothers who came from London, England, to Salem, Mass., in the ship Susan & Ellen in 1635. He was made a freeman at Concord in 1643, and in 1654 settled in Chelmsford, from which town Leonard Proctor, who had served as an officer in the Revolutionary war, moved to Vermont in 1783, and was the first permanent settler of Proc-

torsville. Redfield Proctor was graduated from Dartmouth college, A.B., 1851, A.M., 1854, and from the Albany Law School, LL.B., 1860. He was married. May 26, 1858, to Emily J., daughter of Salmon Fletcher and Sarah (Barlow) Dutton of Cavendish, Vt. He practised law in Boston, 1800-61, and in

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1861 joined the Fed- eral army as quarter- master of the 3d Ver- mont regiment ; was promoted major of the 5th regiment in September, 1861, and colonel of the 15th regiment of volun- teers in 1862. He served as a brigade and division quarter- master on the staff of Gen. William F. Smith, and was mus- tered out in 1863. He engaged in farming and in the practice of law ; was receiver of a marble company, and on its reorganization in 1870 was elected man- ager, developing the business until it became by far the largest marble-producing company in the world. He was a representative in the state legislature, 1867-68 and 1888 ; a member and president pro tempore of the state senate. 1874-76 ; lieutenant-governor of the state, 1876- 78 ; governor, 1878-80, and a delegate-at-large to the Republican national conventions of 1884, 1888 and 1896, being chairman of the Vermont delega- tion in 1888 and in 1896. In March, 1889, he was appointed by President Harrison secretary of war in his cabinet, and resigned, Nov. 1, 1891, having been appointed by Governor Page to the U.S. senate, to fill the vacancy caused by tlie resigna- tion of George F. Edmunds. On Oct. 18, 1892, he was elected by the Vermont legislature to fill both the unexpired and the full terms, and in 1898 was re-elected for the term expiring March 3, 1905. He served in the senate as chairman of the com- mittee on agriculture and forestrj-, and as a member of the committees on fisheries, coast defenses, military affairs. District of Columbia, post offices, the Phillipines, and the select com- mittees on the University of the United States and industrial expositions. His son, Fletclier Dutton, succeeded him in the presidency of the Vermont Marble company in 1889 ; was a repre- sentative in the state legislature, 1890-91 and in 1900-01, when he was elected speaker of that body, and was a member of the state senate in 1891. In 1902 Senator Proctor provided for the 2500 employees of the Vermont Marble company a large and beautifully furnished building, known