Misplaced Pages

Joseph M. Pratt
Pratt in 1944
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 2nd district
In office February 8, 1944 – January 3, 1945
Preceded by	James P. McGranery
Succeeded by	William T. Granahan
Personal details
Born	Joseph Marmaduke Pratt (1891-09-04)September 4, 1891 Paterson, New Jersey, United States
Died	July 19, 1946(1946-07-19) (aged 54) Washington, D.C., United States
Resting place	Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Miriam Pratt
Alma mater	Temple University
Occupation	Politician businessman
Signature

Joseph Marmaduke Pratt (September 4, 1891 – July 19, 1946) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Early life

Joseph M. Pratt was born in Paterson, New Jersey, but moved with his parents to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1892. He graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia in 1919. He went into the business of manufacturing industrial and marine products. He was a member of the Republican City Committee of Philadelphia from 1937 to 1946.

Congress

Pratt was elected as a Republican to Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of James P. McGranery, defeating future congressman William A. Barrett. He was inaugurated on February 8, 1944. During his term, he was redistricted to the third district, where he was pitted against Democratic incumbent Michael J. Bradley for a full term in 1944. He lost the election and left office on January 3, 1945.

Due to the nature of Pratt's tenure, he was in congress for less than a year, during which he participated in the 78th Congress. He voted 44 times, missing 10.7 percent of roll call votes. His voting record was generally conservative, but less so than the median Republican, as he voted with his party 84 percent of the time as opposed to the median Republican score of 88 percent. His most notable vote was in favor of the 1944 G.I. Bill, which was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 22, 1944. During his tenure, Pratt served on one committee, the House War Claims Committee.

Later life and death

He resumed his former business pursuits in Philadelphia, but jumped back into politics in 1946, receiving the Republican nomination for State Senator in Pennsylvania's second state senate district. However, he died in Washington, D.C., from a heart attack while on a business trip before the election was held. Pratt was interred in Arlington Cemetery in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania.

Electoral history

Sources

1. "PRATT, Joseph Marmaduke", Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved August 8, 2022
2. "PA - District 02 - Special Election", OurCampaigns, retrieved August 8, 2022
3. "90 Cong. Rec. (Bound) - Volume 90, Part 1 (January 10, 1944 to February 8, 1944)", clerk.house.gov, retrieved August 8, 2022
4. "PA - District 03", OurCampaigns, retrieved August 8, 2022
5. "PRATT, Joseph Marmaduke (1891-1946)", VoteView, retrieved August 8, 2022
6. "Rep. Joseph Pratt", GovTrack, retrieved August 8, 2022
7. "78th Congress, House Vote 131", VoteView, retrieved August 8, 2022
8. "90 Cong. Rec. (Bound) - Volume 90, Part 2 (February 9, 1944 to March 21, 1944)", clerk.house.gov, retrieved August 8, 2022
9. "PRATT, Joseph Marmaduke", Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, retrieved August 8, 2022
10. "PA - District 02 - Special Election", OurCampaigns, retrieved August 8, 2022
11. "PA - District 03", OurCampaigns, retrieved August 8, 2022

• United States Congress. "Joseph M. Pratt (id: P000503)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• The Political Graveyard

• 1891 births
• 1946 deaths
• Temple University alumni
• Politicians from Philadelphia
• Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
• 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives