Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission. A member of a Newport family prominent in the lumber and building supply business, he graduated from Dartmouth College in 1875, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1877. He the began a practice in Newport which concentrated on railroad and transportation law. Prouty also served for two years as Principal of the Newport Graded School and was President of the Orleans County Trust Company. He served as Orleans County State's Attorney from 1882 to 1884 and was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives. In 1896 he was a Delegate to the Republican National Convention. Also in 1896 he was appointed to a vacancy on the Interstate Commerce Commission. He served until 1914, and was Chairman from 1912 to 1913. Prouty resigned to become the ICC's Director of Valuation, and in 1914 was an unsuccessful Progressive/Prohibition/Democratic candidate for the US Senate. In 1918 he became Director of the Railroad Administration's Division of Public Service and Accounting. He was the brother of Governor George H. Prouty and the uncle of US Senator Winston L. Prouty.

Chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission. A member of a Newport family prominent in the lumber and building supply business, he graduated from Dartmouth College in 1875, studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1877. He the began a practice in Newport which concentrated on railroad and transportation law. Prouty also served for two years as Principal of the Newport Graded School and was President of the Orleans County Trust Company. He served as Orleans County State's Attorney from 1882 to 1884 and was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives. In 1896 he was a Delegate to the Republican National Convention. Also in 1896 he was appointed to a vacancy on the Interstate Commerce Commission. He served until 1914, and was Chairman from 1912 to 1913. Prouty resigned to become the ICC's Director of Valuation, and in 1914 was an unsuccessful Progressive/Prohibition/Democratic candidate for the US Senate. In 1918 he became Director of the Railroad Administration's Division of Public Service and Accounting. He was the brother of Governor George H. Prouty and the uncle of US Senator Winston L. Prouty.