Proctor, or PROCURATOR, one who acts for another. This name was formerly given to a class of practitioners in the English Admiralty and ecclesiastical courts; but proctors are now merged for almost all purposes in the general body of solicitors. The King's or Queen's Proctor is an officer (now the Solicitor to the Treasury) who intervenes to oppose a petition for divorce if he has reason to suspect fraud or collusion. The clergy appoint proctors to represent them in the convocation of their province.
In each of the universities of Oxford and Cambridge there are two proctors, whose duties are to preserve the peace of the university, to repress disorders among the students, and inflict summary academical punishment. They have the command of the academical constabulary, and have also an extensive police jurisdiction in the town. They patrol the streets after dark, attended by officers popularly known as 'bull-dogs.' The proctors must be Masters of Arts, and are chosen by the colleges according to a certain rotation. They nominate two pro-proctors to be their deputies and assistants. The summary authority of the proctors extends both to undergraduates and Bachelors of Arts. They vote in the election of some of the professors and other officers. At Durham also there are two proctors, who, however, do not personally patrol the streets, and have command over only the university police.