Frederic Hale Parkhurst graduated from Columbian Law School and began his career as an attorney before shifting to the business sector. He held various leadership roles in local government, including serving on the Bangor City Council and the Maine House of Representatives. Parkhurst also had a military background, having served as Commissary General in the Maine Militia. His political career culminated in his election as governor, although his term was brief due to his untimely death.

Frederic Hale Parkhurst's brief tenure as governor of Maine, cut short by his untimely death, underscores a strategic approach that is both unconventional and impactful. His military background, coupled with a political career rooted in local governance, suggests a unique blend of disciplined leadership and regional focus. Parkhurst's short but symbolically significant governorship hints at a calculated political style, balancing local interests with broader state responsibilities.