Background
Pratt was born on April 24, 1819 in Ontario County, New New York
Pratt was born on April 24, 1819 in Ontario County, New New York
In New York he attended the Army Academy at West Point from 1837 to 1839. He then studied law in Rochester, New York, earning admission to the state bar in 1841.
He served as the 2nd Associate Justice on the Supreme Court serving from 1848 to 1852. He wrote the lone dissenting opinion in the controversy over the Territory’s capital between City and Salem. Pratt then moved to Galena, Illinois and set up practice in 1843.
In 1849, Pratt moved to to assume the position of judge on the Supreme Court.
When he arrived he was the lone justice, so he exercised all of the judiciary’s powers from April 1849 until William Strong arrived 18 months later. Pratt was appointed to the position by President Polk.
Then in 1852 when Franklin Pierce became President Pratt was removed as judge, and when he was nominated to become chief justice of the court Stephen A. Douglas opposed the nomination and Pratt lost the nomination to George Henry Williams. While in office Pratt was controversial.
He was known for traveling outside of the territory for his own personal gain, and took every opportunity to advance his personal, business, and political goals.
During the dispute over the location of the capital in the territory, he took the minority position of choosing Salem, ultimately Congress would decide the matter in Salem’s favor in 1852. After leaving the court he was a judge of admiralty in Portland, in 1855 to 1856. He also practiced law with Alexander Campbell after failing to receiving a political office.
Pratt then tried to get the money from the Ewing Young estate, but ultimately the Territorial Legislature and the Supreme Court denied the payment of the funds.
In 1856, Pratt moved returned to San Francisco. There he owned the 18-square-mile (47 km2) Rancho Aguas Frias and had a fortune estimated at over $1 million.
Later in New York he was involved in a gambling issue where he refused to testify due to self incrimination issues. In 1886, the University of granted Pratt an honorary doctor of laws degree.
Pratt died in San Francisco in October 1891.