John Elijah Proctor[1] (January 14, 1844 – December 14, 1944) was an American politician in the state of Florida. A former slave, he served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1873 to 1875, and 1879 to 1881, and in the Florida Senate from 1883 to 1885.[2] Though he was born free, he was sold as a slave at a young age to family friends to pay off debts that his father had incurred purchasing an enslaved woman who became his wife.[3][4]
John E. Proctor | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the Florida Senate from the 8th district | |
| In office 1883–1885 | |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the Leon County district | |
| In office 1873–1875 1879–1881 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 14, 1844 |
| Died | December 14, 1944 (aged 100) |
| Political party | Republican |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Florida's Only Former Negro Senator, John Elijah Proctor, Aged 96, Of Tallahassee, Has Keen". Tallahassee Democrat. 1940-02-12. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
- ^ Ward, Robert L. / Florida House of Representatives (2011). "Membership of the Florida House of Representatives by County, 1845-2012" (PDF). Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- ^ "John Proctor, Slave Who Became Legislator, Dies Here at 100". Tallahassee Democrat. Tallahassee, Florida. December 17, 1944. p. 22. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
- ^ "Tallahassee Hidden History dedicates marker, hosts exhibit at Garden Club". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
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