Daniel Darwin Pratt is Born

Today in Masonic History Daniel Darwin Pratt is born in 1813.

Daniel Darwin Pratt was an American politician.

Pratt was born on October 26th, 1813 in Palermo, Maine. In his youth, he moved with his family to Fenner, New York where he attended public schools and Cazenovia Seminary in nearby Cazenovia, New York. The Seminary was an early Methodist High School. Pratt went on to attend Hamilton College in New York, graduating in 1831.

After graduating from Hamilton Pratt moved to Indiana in 1832 where he taught school. He eventually settled in Indianapolis in 1834. In Indianapolis he worked in the Secretary of State's office and studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1836 and began practicing law in Logansport.

From 1851 to 1853, Pratt was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives. In 1868 he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. Before he began serving, he resigned before being seated for the 41st Congress which began March 4th, 1869. In February of 1869 he was elected to the United States Senate. He served in the Senate as a Republican until 1875. During his one term in the Senate he served as the Chairman of the Committee on Pensions.

In 1875, Pratt was appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue. He held the position for one year.

Pratt passed away on June 17th, 1877 in Logansport, Indiana.

Pratt was a member of Tipton Lodge No. 33 in Logansport, Indiana. He was raised in 1837. He served as Worshipful Master of the lodge in 1844.

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.