Le Gage Pratt (December 14, 1852 – March 9, 1911) was an American businessman and politician who served as a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Article One of th ...

from

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

for one term from 1907 to 1909.

Early life and career

Born in

Sterling, Massachusetts Sterling is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 7,985 at the 2020 census. History Previous to its incorporation, it was "the Second Parish of Lancaster." It was commonly called by a portion of its In ...

, Pratt was educated in the common schools. In 1869, he began a commercial career in

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

. He subsequently moved with his parents to

Chicago, Illinois Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, where he engaged in newspaper work in Chicago 1884-1886. He was employed for several years in the life insurance business in Texas. He was subsequently transferred to Illinois and Nebraska and continued in that business. In 1897, he tendered his resignation and moved to

East Orange, New Jersey East Orange is a City (New Jersey), city in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 69,612, an increase of 5,342 (+8.3%) from the 2010 United States ...

, where in 1903 he accepted a position with the

Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company The Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company was a life insurance company that was chartered in 1845 and based in Newark in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. The company was headed by Frederick Frelinghuysen (1848–1924). The company ...

Newark, New Jersey Newark ( , ) is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, most populous City (New Jersey), city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, the county seat of Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, and a principal city of the New York metropolitan area. ...

. He was named company vice president, an office he held until elected to Congress.

Congress

Pratt was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

to the Sixtieth Congress (March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1909). While in office, he investigated allegations of kickbacks during the construction of the

Panama Canal The Panama Canal () is an artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean. It cuts across the narrowest point of the Isthmus of Panama, and is a Channel (geography), conduit for maritime trade between th ...

. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1908 to the Sixty-first Congress. He resumed the insurance business and became connected with the Puritan Life Insurance Co., of

Providence, Rhode Island Providence () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Rhode Island, most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The county seat of Providence County, Rhode Island, Providence County, it is o ...

Death

He died in

, March 9, 1911. He was interred in Fairmount Cemetery in Newark.

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pratt, Le Gage 1852 births 1911 deaths Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey Burials at Fairmount Cemetery (Newark, New Jersey) Politicians from East Orange, New Jersey People from Sterling, Massachusetts 19th-century American people 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives