He was born on June 11, 1771 at Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, United States, the son of Jean Baptiste and Marie Anne (Lalumandiere) Pratte. His father emigrated from France to Fort Chartres but later moved across the Mississippi to Ste. Genevieve.
Bernard received a good education for that time, completing his studies in Canada.
In 1793 he began trading on the Mississippi between St. Louis and New Orleans, later establishing stores at St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve, and regularly traveling to the East for supplies. He entered the fur trade in 1816 as one of the partners of Cabanne & Company, the firm name later becoming Berthold, Chouteau & Pratte. In 1823 the company was reorganized as Bernard Pratte & Company, when they made a contract with the American Fur Company for exclusive rights to purchase their furs. In 1827 the firm secured an interest in the Western Department of the American Fur Company. Three years later Pratte retired from active connection with the fur trade.
He held positions of trust as member of the first St. Louis grand jury, 1804; one of the territorial judges, 1807; treasurer of the District of St. Louis; one of the trustees of the town, 1808-20; incorporator of the Bank of St. Louis; member of the constitutional convention, 1820; and United States receiver of public monies, 1825.
In May 1809 he was sent with reinforcements to Fort Madison to repel an attack on the northern frontier. In some published sketches, supported by family tradition, it is said that Pratte got the title of "General" in the War of 1812, but the records do not seem to bear out these statements. When citizens of St. Louis were called upon to fortify and defend the town during the war, Pratte was appointed a member of the Committee of Safety. From this time on he was referred to in letters and newspapers as General Pratte, and his family and intimates spoke of him as "Mon Général. " On March 14, 1822, his friends proposed him as a candidate for the office of major-general of the Missouri militia, but his name was publicly withdrawn soon after. He died April 1, 1836.
Pratte was a man of ability and enjoyed the confidence of the people of his community to a marked degree.
Pratte was married at St. Louis on May 13, 1794, to Emilie Sauveur Labbadie, daughter of Sylvestre Labbadie and Pelagie Chouteau. They had seven children - one of whom married Ramsay Crooks. The others married into prominent families. A son, Bernard, also attained prominence in St. Louis history. He was twice elected mayor and held many other positions of trust.
