Abner Pratt (May 22, 1801 – March 27, 1863) was an American lawyer, politician, diplomat, and jurist. Born in

Springfield Springfield may refer to: * Springfield (toponym), the place name in general Places and locations Australia * Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast) * Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council) * Springfield, Queenslan ...

Otsego County, New York Otsego County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 58,524. The county seat is Cooperstown. The name ''Otsego'' is from a Mohawk or Oneida word meaning "place of the rock." History In 178 ...

, Pratt studied law and was admitted to the New York bar. Pratt served as district attorney in

Rochester, New York Rochester () is a City (New York), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, the county seat, seat of Monroe County, New York, Monroe County, and the fourth-most populous in the state after New York City, Buffalo, New York, Buffalo, ...

. In 1839, Pratt moved to

Marshall, Michigan Marshall is a U.S. city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Calhoun County. The population was 7,088 at the 2010 census. Marshall is best known for its cross-section of 19th- and early 20th-century architecture. It has been referred to by t ...

and continued to practice law. In 1844 and 1845, Pratt served in the

Michigan State Senate The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. Along with the Michigan House of Representatives, it composes the state legislature, which has powers, roles and duties defined by Article IV of the Michigan Constitution, ado ...

. From 1850 until 1857, Pratt served on the

Michigan Supreme Court The Michigan Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is Michigan's court of last resort and consists of seven justices. The Court is located in the Michigan Hall of Justice at 925 Ottawa Street in Lansing, the state ...

and served as chief justice of the court. In 1857, President

James Buchanan James Buchanan Jr. ( ; April 23, 1791June 1, 1868) was an American lawyer, diplomat and politician who served as the 15th president of the United States from 1857 to 1861. He previously served as secretary of state from 1845 to 1849 and repr ...

appointed Pratt consul to the

Kingdom of Hawaii The Hawaiian Kingdom, or Kingdom of Hawaiʻi ( Hawaiian: ''Ko Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina''), was a sovereign state located in the Hawaiian Islands. The country was formed in 1795, when the warrior chief Kamehameha the Great, of the independent island ...

serving until 1862. Pratt returned to Marshall, Michigan and built his home Honolulu House. In 1863, Pratt served in the

Michigan House of Representatives The Michigan House of Representatives is the lower house of the Michigan Legislature. There are 110 members, each of whom is elected from constituencies having approximately 77,000 to 91,000 residents, based on population figures from the 2010 ...

and served as mayor of Marshall, Michigan. Pratt died in Marshall, Michigan in 1863.'Deaths-Hon. Abner Pratt,' Burlington Daily Hawk Eye (Burlington, Iowa), April 3, 1863

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External links

Marshall, Michigan-Honolulu House
1801 births 1863 deaths People from Springfield, New York People from Marshall, Michigan Michigan lawyers New York (state) lawyers American consuls 19th-century American diplomats Mayors of places in Michigan Chief Justices of the Michigan Supreme Court Michigan state senators Members of the Michigan House of Representatives 19th-century American politicians 19th-century American judges 19th-century American lawyers Justices of the Michigan Supreme Court {{Michigan-politician-stub