Fletcher Proctor graduated from Amherst College and holds honorary degrees from several institutions. He began his career in the private sector, managing a significant marble company and other enterprises. Proctor held various local and state offices, including serving as a town selectman, school board member, and Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs. He also served multiple terms in the state legislature, culminating in a stint as Speaker. Proctor was elected governor, during which he implemented progressive forestry policies, reorganized the state's courts, and reformed regulatory commissions. Post-governorship, he returned to his business interests.

Fletcher Proctor defies conventional categorization, blending progressive policies with a surprising commitment to state-driven economic intervention. His tenure reveals an ideological agility, as he rejected fiscal conservatism in favor of progressive forestry policies, while simultaneously pushing for substantial government reforms. Proctor's approach to environmental regulations and industrial oversight indicates a calculated balancing act between progressive ideals and regional economic interests.