PRATT, Enoch, philanthropist, born in North Middleborough, Massachusetts, 10 September, 1808. He was graduated at Bridgewater academy at the age of fifteen, and soon afterward secured a place in a commercial house in Boston. In 1831 Mr. Pratt removed to Balfloor, established himself as a commission merchant. He afterward founded the wholesale iron house and of Pratt Keith, and later that of Enoch Pratt and Brother, but gave much of his time to financial enterprises of a public nature, tie has been director and president of various corporations, president of the House of reformation and instruction for colored children at Cheltenham, which he founded, and to which he gave 730 acres of his farm as a site, and president of the Maryland school for the deaf and dumb at Frederick, which he established. In 1877 he was elected by the city councils of Baltimore as finance commissioner. In 1867 Mr. Pratt had endowed an academy in North Middleborough, his native city, in the stun of $30,000. On 21 January, 1882, Mr. Pratt gave notice to the government of the city of Baltimore of his purpose to establish a free circulating library, to be called the Enoch Pratt free library of the city of Baltimore, on certain conditions of co-operation on the part of the city, which were promptly accepted He proceeded immediately to erect fire-proof buildings for the library (see illustration) and four branches, which were completed and conveyed to the city, 2 July, 1883. Mr. Pratt intended to spend$1,000,000, but the amount had reached $1,145,833.33 at the completion of the buildings. The library was formally opened on 4 January, 1886.