Samuel Jackson Pratt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samuel Jackson Pratt
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| Born | 25 December 1749 St Ives, Huntingdonshire |
| Died | 4 October 1814 (aged 64) Birmingham, West Midlands |
| Pen name | "Courtney Melmoth" |
| Occupation | Writer, poet & dramatist |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | English |
| Education | Felsted, Essex |
| Period | 18th & 19th Centuries |
| Spouse | "Mrs Charlotte Melmoth" |
Samuel Jackson Pratt (born 1749, died 1814) was a very active English writer. He wrote many poems, plays, and novels. Sometimes he used his own name, and sometimes he used the pen name "Courtney Melmoth."
He wrote about 40 books and plays between 1770 and 1810. Some of his works are still read today. People often remember him for his novel Emma Corbett (1780) and his poem Sympathy (1788).
Even though he faced some challenges in his life, today he is known for two important things. He was one of the first people to speak up for animal welfare (being kind to animals). He was also the first English writer to write about the American Revolution in a serious way.
Contents
About Samuel Jackson Pratt
His Early Life
Samuel Jackson Pratt was born on December 25, 1749. His family lived in St Ives, Huntingdonshire. His father was a brewer and a respected member of the community.
Samuel went to Felsted School in Essex. Later, he became a Church of England clergyman. His first published poem was called Partridges in 1771. It appeared in many popular poetry books.
He was known as a good preacher. But by 1773, he left the church. He then became an actor, using the stage name "Courtney Melmoth."
His Time as an Actor
In 1773, Samuel Pratt started acting in Dublin. He used the name 'Courtney Melmoth'. His first big role was Marc Antony in a play called All For Love. However, he was not very successful.
He tried to start his own theater company in Drogheda, but it closed quickly. In 1774, he played Hamlet in London. Critics did not like his performance. One person said he walked in a funny way on stage. After this, he stopped acting full-time.
Later Years
In 1774, Samuel Pratt had his first big writing success. It was a poem about the death of Dr. Goldsmith. This poem got a lot of public attention. From then on, he made his living by writing.
By 1776, he moved to Bath, Somerset. He briefly owned a bookshop there. He became friends with many famous people, including the actress Mrs Siddons. He even wrote parts for her in his plays.
By 1802, he was living in Birmingham. He was known as a helpful writer. He often gave advice to young writers, like George Mogridge. In 1814, he fell from his horse. He became very ill and died on October 4, 1814, in Birmingham.
Samuel Pratt's Writing Career
Samuel Pratt's first poem was The Partridges – an elegy. It was published in 1771. The poem was about a mother partridge protecting her chicks. It showed Pratt's early concern for animal welfare. This concern would appear in his later works too.
His poem The Tears of A Genius, occasioned by the Death of Dr Goldsmith (1774) made him famous. He wrote it quickly after Goldsmith's death. He used his pen name 'Courtney Melmoth' for this work.
Over the next six years, he wrote twelve more works as 'Courtney Melmoth'. These included Emma Corbett (1780). In 1781, he started writing under his own name. Most of his later books were published as by Samuel Jackson Pratt.
In the 1790s, he wrote popular travel books. These included Gleanings through Wales, Holland and Westphalia and Gleanings in England. These books were printed many times. In total, he wrote seven novels, ten plays, and many volumes of poems and travel journals.
Emma Corbett
In 1780, Pratt published his most important novel, Emma Corbett. He still used the name Courtney Melmoth for this book. The full title was Emma Corbett or, The miseries of civil war. Founded on some recent circumstances which happened in America.
In the story, Emma travels to America to find her love, Henry. He is a British soldier. American rebels capture her, but George Washington orders her release. She finds Henry, who is hurt by a poisoned arrow. Emma tries to save him but gets poisoned herself. Henry dies, and Emma travels back to England with their child, where she also dies.
The novel was very popular when it came out. It was translated into many languages. Today, it is important because it shows how people felt about the American War of Independence. It was also the first English novel to seriously write about the American Revolution.
Plays by Samuel Pratt
Pratt used his acting experience to write ten plays. However, three of them were never performed or published. His first play, Joseph Andrews, was based on a novel by Henry Fielding. It was performed in 1778.
His most successful play was The Fair Circassian. It was based on a novel called Almoran and Hamet. It was first performed in 1781. The main part was written for his friend, the actress Mrs Siddons. The Fair Circassian was published many times and is still available today.
Speaking Up for Animals
Samuel Pratt was a strong supporter of animal welfare. He was against cruelty to animals, hunting, and blood-sports. Many of his writings show this concern.
His most famous poem, Sympathy (1788), talks about sharing the Earth with all creatures. It asks why humans must hunt to live. In another work, Humanity, or the Rights of Nature, he says, "For hunger kill, but never sport with life."
A magazine review in 1809 praised Pratt for his work. It said that no other writer had written more about being kind to animals than him.
Images for kids
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A portrait of Samuel Jackson Pratt.
