Born in Jackson County, Alabama, Rector graduated from Yale University in 1859 and read law to enter the bar in 1860.
He was a district attorney of Travis County, Texas from 1866 to 1867, thereafter returning to private practice in Bastrop until 1871.
[1] Rector ran for election to the 49th Congress against Joseph D. Sayers in 1884 for the seat from Texas's 10th congressional district as an Independent.
[2] On March 24, 1892, Rector was nominated by President Benjamin Harrison to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas vacated by Judge Andrew Phelps McCormick.
Rector was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 28, 1892, and received his commission the same day.