John Pratt, 1st Marquess Camden

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Jeffreys Pratt, 2nd Earl and 1st Marquess Camden, KG, PC (11 February 17598 October 1840), British politician, was the only son of the 1st Earl.

He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1780 he was chosen member of parliament for Bath and he obtained the lucrative position of teller of the exchequer, an office which he kept until his death, although after 1812 he refused to receive the large income arising from it.

In the ministry of William Pitt, Pratt was successively a lord of the admiralty and a lord of the treasury; then, having succeeded his father in the earldom in 1794, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1795. Disliked in Ireland as an opponent of Roman Catholic emancipation and as the exponent of an unpopular policy, Camden's term of office was one of commotion and alarm, culminating in the rebellion of 1798.

Immediately after the suppression of the rising he resigned, and in 1804 became Secretary of State for War and the Colonies under Pitt, and in 1805 Lord President of the Council. He was again Lord President from 1807 to 1812, after which date he remained for some time in the cabinet without office.

In 1812 he was created Earl of Brecknock and Marquess Camden. He died on 8 October 1840, and was succeeded by his only son, George Charles (1799–1866).

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Abel Moysey
Sir John Sebright, Bt
Member for Bath
1780–1794
with Abel Moysey 1780–1790, Viscount Weymouth 1790–1794
Succeeded by
Viscount Weymouth
Sir Richard Pepper Arden
Political offices
Preceded by
The Earl Fitzwilliam
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
1795–1798
Succeeded by
The Marquess Cornwallis
Preceded by
Lord Hobart
Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
1804–1805
Succeeded by
Viscount Castlereagh
Preceded by
The Viscount Sidmouth
Lord President of the Council
1805–1806
Succeeded by
The Earl Fitzwilliam
Preceded by
The Viscount Sidmouth
Lord President of the Council
1807–1812
Succeeded by
The Viscount Sidmouth
Honorary Titles
Preceded by
The Earl of Romney
Lord Lieutenant of Kent
1808–1840?
Succeeded by
The Earl of Thanet
Preceded by
New Creation
Marquess Camden
1812–1840
Succeeded by
George Charles Pratt
Preceded by
Charles Pratt
Earl Camden
1794–1840