CAMDEN, Charles Pratt (1st Earl of), English statesman: b. 1713; d. London, 18 April 1794. After studying at Eton and King's Col lege, Cambridge, he entered as a student at Lincoln's Inn, and in due time was called to the bar. In 1754 he was chosen member of Par liament for the borough of Downton. After ac quiring great reputation as an advocate, he was, in 1757, appointed attorney-general, having the same year been elected recorder of the city of Bath. While he held the office of chief justice of the common pleas Wilkes was arrested on a general warrant as the author of the (North He was committed to the Tower as a state prisoner; and being brought, in obedience to a writ of habeas corpus, before the Court of Common Pleas, Chief Justice Pratt discharged him from his confinement on 6 May 1763. The behavior of the judge on this occasion, and in the consequent judicial proceedings between the printers of the 'North Briton) and the messen gers of the House of Commons, and other agents of the ministry, was so acceptable to the metropolis that the city of London presented him with the freedom of the corporation, in a old box, and requested to have his picture. In
July 1765 he was raised to the peerage, by the title of Baron Camden ; and about a year after made lord chancellor. In this capacity he pre, sided at the decision of a suit against the mes sengers who arrested Mr. Wilkes, when he made a speech, in which he stated that ait was the unanimous opinion of the court, that gen eral warrants, except in cases of high treason, were illegal, oppressive and unwarrantable." On his opposing the taxation of the American colonies, he was deprived of the seals in 1770. He came into office again as president of the council, under the administration of the Marquis of Rockingham, in March 1782; on whose death, he resigned the following year. He soon after, however, resumed his place under Mr. Pitt, and in 1786 was made Earl Camden and Vis count Bayham. His popularity was very great in the American colonies, as is shown by the many counties, towns and villages named in his honor.