PROCTON, Thomas, soldier, born in Ireland in 1739; died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 16 March, 1806. He emigrated to Philadelphia with his father, Francis Proctor, and was by trade a carpenter. On 27 October, 1775, he applied to the committee of safety to be commissioned captain of an artillery company to be raised for garrisoning Fort island, and was immediately commissioned with authority to raise his company. In August, 1776, his command was raised to a battalion, of which he was appointed major. General Knox wanted to annex Proctor's battalion to the Continental army, but on 7 February, 1777, he was commissioned colonel, with instructions to raise an entire regiment of artillery. Part of his command was captured at Bound Brook. The regiment was under Wayne at Brandywine, and engaged in the artillery duel with Knyphausen at Chadd's Ford. Proctor's horse was shot under him, and he lost his guns and caissons when Sullivan was routed. One of his guns, under Lieutenant Barker, was brought up to batter the Chew house at Germantown. The remnants of the regiment wintered at Valley Forge. In September, 1778, his regiment became a part of the Continental army, and he received his commission as colonel of artillery, 18 May, 1779, and marched to Wyoming. His batteries did good service at the battle of Newtown. He was in Wayne's Bergen Neck expedition, and was satirized by Andre in the " Cow Chase "-- " Sons of distant Delaware, And still remoter Shannon, And Major Lee with horses rare, And Proctor with his cannon." He resigned in 1781 on account of differences with Joseph Reed, president of the Pennsylvania council, and in 1783 was chosen high sheriff of Philadelphia, which office he held three years. In 1790 he was made city lieutenant, in 1791 a commissioner to treat with the Miami Indians. In 1793 he became brigadier-general of the Pennsylvania troops, and marched against the Whiskey insurgents at the head of the first brigade. After this he became major-general of the Philadelphia militia, and when war was threatened with France he assured Governor Mifflin of his cordial support in the event of hostilities. He was one of the founders of the St. Tammany society in Philadelphia, of which he was a sachem. A part of Colonel Proctor's regiment of artillery has maintained its organization to the present time as the 2d United States artillery.

-BEGIN--Robert Proud

PROUD, Robert, historian, born in Yorkshire, England, 10 May, 1728; died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 7 July, 1813. He emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1759, and taught Latin and Greek in a Friends' academy in Philadelphia until the Revolution. Charles Brockden Brown was one of his pupils. He was firm in his attachment to the crown, and believed that the Revolution would cause the decline of virtue and prosperity in this country. "Dominic" Proud was a familiar figure for many years in his adopted city. He was tall, with a Roman nose, and "most impending brows," and in his curled wig and cocked hat is described as the "perfect model of a gentleman." His "History of Pennsylvania," which is full of valuable information, although deficient in well-sustained narrative, was his pecuniary ruin (Philadelphia, 1797-'8).