Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Pratt, Charles (1768-1838)
PRATT, Sir CHARLES (1768–1838), lieutenant-general, is said to have come of an Irish family, and may have been distantly connected with the earls of Camden. He was born in 1768, and became ensign in the army on 14 April 1794. He was subsequently promoted lieutenant 5th foot (after Northumberland fusiliers), 3 Sept. 1795; captain, 28 Feb. 1798; major, 25 Aug. 1804; lieutenant-colonel, 25 March 1808; colonel, 4 June 1814; major-general, 27 May 1825; lieutenant-general and colonel of the 95th foot (after the Derbyshire regiment), 23 Dec. 1834.
Pratt commanded the first battalion of the 5th foot which embarked at Cork in May 1812, and landed at Lisbon to join the English army under Wellington in the Peninsula. He thus took a prominent part in a long series of brilliant engagements. Joining Wellington on landing by forced marches, both battalions of the 5th regiment shared in the honours and triumphs of Salamanca on 22 July 1812. Pratt received a medal, and the regiment the right to bear ‘Salamanca’ on their colours. He and his battalion rendered no less service at Vittoria, where a superior force of the enemy was driven in (21 June 1813). Pratt again obtained a medal. He was present in command of the first battalion at the battles of Nivelle, 10 Nov. 1814, Orthes, 27 Feb. 1814, and finally at the closing struggle and crowning victory of the war, the battle of Toulouse, on 10 April 1814. The regiment, in consideration of these achievements, received permission to add ‘Peninsula’ to the long list of names on its colours. On the extension of the order of the Bath in 1814, Pratt was nominated C.B. With his regiment he served in the army of occupation in France till 1818. In the following year he embarked with the regiment for St. Vincent. In May 1825 he came home on being succeeded in his command by Lieutenant-colonel W. Sutherland. In 1830 he was made K.C.B. and declined the command of troops in Jamaica. He died, without issue, of an apoplectic fit at Brighton on 25 Oct. 1838.
[Gent. Mag. 1839, i. 210; Army Lists; Cannon's Hist. Records; Times, 29 Oct. 1838; St. George's Gazette.]