Samuel Jackson Pratt

Samuel Jackson Pratt
Born	St Ives, Huntingdonshire, England
Died	October 4, 1814(1814-10-04) (aged 64) Birmingham, England
Occupation(s)	Poet, playwright, novelist, actor, bookseller, clergyman
Years active	1770–1810
Known for	Emma Corbett; poem Sympathy; early animal welfare advocacy; first English author to address American Revolution seriously in literature

Samuel Jackson Pratt (25 December 1749 – 4 October 1814) was a highly productive English poet, playwright, and novelist who wrote both under his own name and the pseudonym "Courtney Melmoth." Between 1770 and 1810, he produced approximately 40 works, some of which remain in print today. He is particularly remembered for Emma Corbett: or the Miseries of Civil War (1780) and the poem Sympathy (1788). Despite controversies during his life, Pratt is acknowledged as an early advocate for animal welfare and as the first English author to address the American Revolution as a serious literary theme.

Early life

Pratt was born on 25 December 1749 in St Ives, Huntingdonshire into a respectable family; his father was a brewer who served twice as High Sheriff of Huntingdonshire. He received his education at Felsted in Essex and was ordained in the Church of England. His initial publication was an elegy titled Partridges (1771), which featured in popular poetry anthologies throughout the nineteenth century. Though respected as a clergyman, Pratt became involved in a scandalous romantic affair by 1773, prompting him to leave the church and pursue acting under the stage name "Courtney Melmoth."

"Sham marriage"

During the early 1770s, Pratt entered into a relationship resembling marriage with a woman who adopted the name "Mrs Charlotte Melmoth"—Melmoth being his theatrical pseudonym. Her birth name remains unknown. As detailed in A History of The City of Brooklyn, Charlotte was reportedly "deceived into a sham marriage" by Pratt (known professionally as Courtney Melmoth), and they performed together across England and Ireland. Pratt's parents disapproved of the union, and whether it was legally valid is uncertain. The pair toured with little success and eventually turned to fortune-telling to support themselves.

By 1777, the couple briefly resided in Paris, where they encountered Benjamin Franklin, who provided them with financial assistance that proved difficult to repay. Both considered themselves poets; Pratt sent Franklin copies of Charlotte’s poetry.

The partners parted ways in 1781; Charlotte pursued an independent acting career and emigrated to America in 1793, earning acclaim as "The Grande Dame of Tragedy on the Early American Stage." They never reconciled.

This liaison negatively impacted Pratt’s reputation, casting doubts on his morals; some obituaries tactfully referred to it as "indiscretions that too frequently accompany genius," while others omitted any mention altogether.

Stage career

After leaving his clerical duties in 1773, Pratt made his acting debut at Dublin’s Smock Alley Theatre under the name 'Courtney Melmoth,' portraying Marc Antony in Dryden’s All For Love. However, his performance met with limited acclaim. He subsequently led a theatre troupe to Drogheda, but the venture closed after three months due to poor audience reception. In 1774, he took on the role of Hamlet at London’s Covent Garden Theatre, where critics were largely unfavorable; one review remarked that his "airy swing" rendered his acting comical. Following these setbacks, Pratt mostly withdrew from acting to concentrate on writing, though he occasionally appeared alongside his wife until around 1781.

Later life

After retiring from the stage in 1774, Pratt attained his initial literary acclaim with the poem The Tears of A Genius, occasioned by the Death of Dr Goldsmith, which brought him public recognition and allowed him to support himself through his writing. By 1776, he relocated to Bath and entered a partnership with Clinch to co-own a bookstore on Milsom Street. Finding the bookselling business ill-suited to him, Pratt returned to London after a few years. While in Bath, he mingled with high society and formed a friendship with the actress Mrs Siddons, for whom he later crafted principal roles. However, their relationship deteriorated when Pratt borrowed £500 from her husband and failed to repay the debt.

By 1802, Pratt had established himself in Birmingham as a distinguished literary figure, known for guiding emerging authors such as George Mogridge ("Old Humphrey"). Following a horse-riding mishap in 1814, he endured a lengthy illness and passed away on 4 October 1814 at his residence on Colmore Row in Birmingham.

Literary career

Pratt’s earliest poetic work, composed during his time as a clergyman, was The Partridges – an elegy (1771), featured in The Annual Register. This ten-verse poem demonstrated his initial advocacy for animal welfare and was frequently included in anthologies throughout the nineteenth century.

His major breakthrough came with The Tears of A Genius (1774), written soon after Goldsmith’s death. This piece imitated Goldsmith’s style and was published under the alias 'Courtney Melmoth'. Over the following six years, Pratt produced twelve works under this pseudonym, including An Apology for the Life and Writings of David Hume (1777), Shenstone Green, or the New Paradise Lost (1779), Emma Corbett (1780), and Shadows of Shakespeare, a Monody on Death of Garrick (1779)—from which lines are inscribed on David Garrick’s memorial in Westminster Abbey.

In 1781, Pratt began issuing works under his real name with the tragic drama The Fair Circassian. Throughout the 1790s, his well-received travel books such as Gleanings through Wales, Holland and Westphalia and Gleanings in England were reprinted multiple times. His oeuvre encompasses seven novels spanning 23 volumes, ten theatrical plays, and twenty-three volumes comprising poetry collections, miscellanies, and travel narratives.

The Pupil of Pleasure

In 1776, Pratt stirred controversy within literary circles by publishing The Pupil of Pleasure or The New System (Lord Chesterfield's) Illustrated, a novel that satirized Lord Chesterfield while portraying fictional romantic exploits set in Buxton. Its provocative content provoked criticism; detractors labeled Pratt "a dissipated clergyman," and the Monthly Review condemned it as "unnatural and shocking" as well as "disgusting." This negative reception damaged his standing, prompting him to author the more virtuous The Tutor of Truth two years later—regarded by the Monthly Review as "more inoffensive" than his previous writings.

Emma Corbett

Published in 1780 under the pseudonym Courtney Melmoth, Emma Corbett or, The miseries of civil war. Founded on some recent circumstances which happened in America follows Emma’s quest to locate her British soldier lover during the American War of Independence. Captured by rebel forces but subsequently freed by orders from George Washington, Emma ultimately sacrifices her life to protect Henry from a poisoned arrow. Upon release, the novel received acclaim and was translated into multiple languages. It holds particular importance as the first English novel addressing the American Revolution and for its portrayal of relations between Britain and America.

Dramatic works

Pratt wrote ten plays influenced by his theatrical background, although three of these were never published or performed. His debut play, Joseph Andrews, adapted from Henry Fielding’s novel, was first presented at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1778, featuring Mary Robinson. His most acclaimed drama, The Fair Circassian, based on John Hawkesworth’s Almoran and Hamet, premiered at Drury Lane in 1781. Originally intended for Mrs Siddons but ultimately acted by Elizabeth Farren, this play was widely disseminated and continues to be available in print. Additionally, his 1783 comedy The School for Vanity was also produced at Drury Lane.

Animal welfare

An ardent advocate against animal cruelty and blood sports, Pratt frequently incorporated these themes into his literary works. His well-known poem Sympathy (1788) promotes harmony between humans and all living beings, challenging mankind’s dependence on predation. In Humanity, or the Rights of Nature, he criticizes hunting conducted for mere amusement. Contemporary critics acknowledged Pratt as a prominent figure opposing animal mistreatment, dedicating significant portions of his writing to this cause.

Critical reception

During his lifetime, Pratt’s literary efforts elicited varied critical opinions. Scandals linked to his personal affairs and the contentious nature of The Pupil of Pleasure damaged his standing among more conservative audiences. Nonetheless, his poem Sympathy received acclaim for its passionate expression and vitality. The Gentleman's Magazine noted that although overshadowed by some peers, many of Pratt’s compositions encouraged kindness and moral values and might outlast the fame of others. Critics often remarked on his inclination toward excessive sentimentality; Charles Lamb dismissed his Gleanings as lacking substance despite its popularity. Reviews for works such as The Tutor of Truth were generally positive, with some commentators describing his body of work as possessing moderate merit.

His obituary in the Gentleman's Magazine portrayed him as free from envy despite life’s challenges and mistakes, emphasizing that his writings sought to foster virtue and that these faults should not overshadow his legacy.

External links

• Complete list of Pratt's writings
• Pratt's obituary in "Notes and Queries"
• Pratt's obituary in "The Gentleman's Magazine"
• OCR-scanned copy of "Pity's Gift," a collection of Pratt's stories
• Animal Rights History website highlighting Pratt's writings on animal welfare
• Pratt's entry in Chalmers' "General Biographical Dictionary"