PROCTOR, Redfield, American politician: b Proctorsville, 'Vt., 1 June 1831; d. 'Washing ton, D. C., 4 March 19W. He was graduated from Dartmouth in 1851, and from the Albany Law School in 1860. He practised law a short time and in 1861 entered the Federal army as lieutenant; was soon promoted major and was mustered out as colonel. After a few years' law` practice he devoted himself to business, acquir ing large interests in marble quarries in Ver mont. He began political life as a Republican member of the lower house of the Vermont legislature, being first elected to that body in 1867, and again in 1868 and 1888; he was a member and president pro tem. of the State senate in 1874 and 1875; in 1876 he was elected lieutenant-governor, and in 1878 governor of the State. During his administration he brought. about several reforms in the State finances and system of taxation. In 1888 he was chairman of the Vermont delegation to the Republican National Convention, and again in 1896. In he was appointed Secretary of War by President Harrison, and gave especial attention to the improvement of coast and border de fense. In 1891 he resigned his secretaryship to
accept the appointment to the United States Senate for the unexpired term of Senator Ed munds, resigned, and in 1892 was.elected to the Senate for the six years' term. In 1898 and 1904 he was re-elected. In 1898 he visited Cuba. to investigate conditions in the island, and on his return delivered a speech in the Senate in regard to the reconcentrados, which aroused the attention of the whole country. The facts pre sented by him were also influential in determin ing the policy of intervention in Cuba by the United States. Consult Proctor, W. L., and Mrs. W. L. Proctor, Genealogy of De scendants of Robert Proctor of Concord and Chelmsford, Mass.> (Ogdensburg, N. Y., 1898); 'Redfield Proctor, Memorial Addresses' (in Senate Document, No. 764, 60th Congress, 2d Session, Washington 1909).