Charles Pratt Camden was a lord chancellor of England.
Background
Charles Pratt Camden was born in Kensington in 1714, he was a descendant of an old Devon family. His father was Sir John Pratt, Chief Justice of the King's Bench in the reign of George I. His mother was Elizabeth, was the daughter of Rev. Hugh Wilson of Trefeglwys.
Education
Charles Pratt Camden received his early education at Eton and King's College, Cambridge.
In 1734 he became a fellow of his college, and in the following year obtained his degree of B. A. Having adopted his father's profession, he had entered the Middle Temple in 1728, and ten years later he was called to the bar.
Career
The first case which brought him prominently into notice and gave him assurance of ultimate success was the government prosecution, in 1752, of a bookseller, William Owen, for a libel on the House of Commons. His speech for the defence contributed much to the verdict for the defendant.
In 1757, through the influence of William Pitt (afterwards earl of Chatham), with whom Charles Pratt Camden had formed an intimate friendship while at Eton, he received the appointment of attorney-general.
He sat in parliament four years, but did not distinguish himself as a debater.
One of the most noticeable incidents of his tenure of office as attorney-general was the prosecution of Dr. J. Shebbeare (1709- 1788), a violent party writer of the day, for a libel against the government contained in his notorious Letters to the People of England, which were published in the years 1756-1758.
He was at the same time knighted.
Soon after his elevation the nation was thrown into great excitement about the prosecution of John Wilkes, and the question involved in it of the legality of " general warrants. "
This seat he retained less than four years; for although he discharged its duties in so efficient a manner that, with one exception, his decisions were never reversed on appeal, he took up a position of such uncompromising hostility to the governments of the day, the Grafton and North administrations, on the greatest and most exciting matters, the treatment of the American colonies and the proceedings against John Wilkes, that the government had no choice but to require of him the surrender of the great seal.
Within a few months he was reinstated in this office under the Pitt administration, and held it till his death.
He was raised to the dignity of an earl in May 1786, and was at the same time created Viscount Bayham.
His remains were interred in Seale church in Kent.
Connections
Charles Pratt Camden was further aided by an advantageous marriage on 5 October 1749 to Elizabeth. They had a son John Jeffreys, his successor in title and estates, and four daughters, of whom the eldest, Frances.