Enoch Pratt was an American capitalist and philanthropist.
Background
He was born on September 10, 1808 in North Middleborough, Massachussets, United States, the son of Isaac and Naomi (Keith) Pratt. His first ancestor in America on his father's side was Mathew Pratt, who was in Weymouth. Massachussets, as early as 1628; the first in the maternal line is said to have been Rev. James Keith, who came from Scotland in 1662 and settled at Bridgewater, Massachussets.
Enoch Pratt early learned of the iron industry from the crude nail-making carried on in the homes of the farmers of his neighborhood.
Education
At fifteen he left the Bridgewater Academy for a seven-year clerkship in Boston, for, he said, "I suspect I am old enough to do considerable business. "
Career
In 1831 he went to Baltimore, where he had relatives; despite the possession of only $150, he was soon established as an iron commission merchant, nails and mule shoes being his staples. The story is told that at first he made deliveries in a wheelbarrow. Success came quickly and he began to sell on his own account; he later took in a succession of partners, but the firm was longest known as E. Pratt & Brothers, at 23-25 South Charles Street. The development of iron furnaces in Maryland assisted the business. Pratt branched out to wider enterprise - transportation, banking, and fire insurance.
In 1872 he obtained the controlling interest in the Maryland Steamboat Company, and during the next twenty years greatly improved the service to Chesapeake Bay and river wharves, constantly adding new steamers. He was a director in the Susquehanna Canal Company, was for twenty-seven years vice-president of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, & Baltimore Railroad, and was a director in three smaller railways in the South. For almost sixty years he was a director of the National Farmers' & Planters' Bank of Baltimore, and at his death had been its president for thirty-six years. He was president of the Baltimore Clearing House and of the Maryland Bankers' Association, and was heavily interested in two fire-insurance companies.
He carried out the project of Enoch Pratt Free Library himself. It was formally opened in January 1886, with 32, 000 books and four branches. In addition to the buildings and books, he gave the city as an endowment $833, 333. 33, the provision being that this sum was to accumulate until it reached $1, 000, 000, the city from the first paying interest at 5 per cent. Improvement of the condition of the black race always had Pratt's solicitude. He was a generous patron of Edward S. Bartholomew, the sculptor.
Achievements
Enoch Pratt has been listed as a noteworthy business executive, philanthropist by Marquis Who's Who.
Politics
Though a Republican, he was made a finance commissioner of Baltimore under a Democratic administration (1877). Braving popular disfavor, he was a leading supporter of the Union cause in Baltimore during the Civil War, and personally contributed to the comfort of the troops passing through the city.
Views
Improvement of the condition of the black race always had Pratt's solicitude. He was eager to have both races use the public library.
Membership
He was a member of the American Colonization Society.
Personality
He was a shrewd, honest, quick-witted, and public-spirited man. Childless himself, he was especially fond of children.
He was small in stature, with a square jaw, thin, straight lips, and piercing, very blue, eyes. He was, to say the least, unostentatious in dress.
Quotes from others about the person
Andrew Carnegie was influenced by his friend Pratt's library, saying "Pratt was my pioneer. "
Connections
He married Maria Louisa Hyde on August 1, 1837. They had no children.
