Hiram Pratt (June 28, 1800 – April 27, 1840) was an American politician and mayor of

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is a Administrative divisions of New York (state), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York and county seat of Erie County, New York, Erie County. It lies in Western New York at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of ...

, serving 1835–1836 and 1839–1840.

Early life

Pratt was born in

Westminster, Vermont Westminster is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 3,016 at the 2020 census. It was also the first capital of the Republic of Vermont. It borders the state of New Hampshire. History Westminster is Vermont's o ...

on June 28, 1800, and moved to Buffalo as a child with his family. He was a son of Captain Samuel Pratt, an early settler of Buffalo. He married Maria Fowler on December 10, 1825. They had three daughters.

Career

With Orlando Allen, Pratt built a mercantile business, a warehouse and forwarding business, and was an agent for the Farmers Fire Insurance and Loan Company. A founder, cashier, and president of the first Bank of Buffalo, he was a leading Great Lakes shipbuilder; and a Trustee of the village of Buffalo. On March 10, 1835, the Buffalo Common Council appointed Pratt as Mayor of the city. During his first term the city purchased land for the Elk Street Market. On March 5, 1839, he was elected for a second term. During this term six new school buildings were erected and competent teachers hired and a Recorder's Court was created. In January 1840, the New York State legislature passed a law requiring all mayors in New York to be elected directly by the people, making him the last mayor elected by the Common Council. During the financial depression of 1836–1838, Pratt lost his entire estate largely to forged notes and the speculative projects undertaken by Benjamin Rathbun. He never fully recovered from the emotional strain.

Death

Pratt died in

Utica, New York Utica () is the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The tenth-most populous city in New York, its population was 65,283 in the 2020 census. It is located on the Mohawk River in the Mohawk Valley at the foot of the Adiro ...

on April 27, 1840, en route to

Saratoga, New York Saratoga is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,808 at the 2020 census.United States Census Bureau, 2020 U.S. Census Results, Saratoga town, Saratoga County, New York https://www.census.gov/search-results.h ...

for rest. His body was returned to Buffalo and he is

interred Burial, also known as interment or inhumation, is a method of final disposition whereby a dead body is placed into the ground, sometimes with objects. This is usually accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing the deceased and object ...

at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Buffalo's Prospect Park stands on property once owned by Pratt.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pratt, Hiram 1800 births 1840 deaths People from Westminster (town), Vermont Mayors of Buffalo, New York Burials at Forest Lawn Cemetery (Buffalo) New York (state) Whigs 19th-century mayors of places in New York (state)