CAMDEN, CHARLES PRATT, first Earl of (1714-94). An English Chief Justice and Lord Chancellor, third son of Sir John Pratt, a Chief .Justice under George I. He was born at Ken sington and educated at. Eton and Cambridge. In lie became a fellow of his college, the next year obtained his B.A. degree, and in 1740 that of M.A. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1738. llis prospeets were dis couraging until 1752. when he successfully de fended a bookseller for libel on the }louse of Commons. In 1757 lie was appointed Attorney General, and in 1762 Chief Justice of the Com mon Pleas. Be presided over the trial of Wilkes (q.v.) and declared the action of Government illegal, an opinion which, according with public sentiment. made him the most popular of judges. In 1765 lie was created Baron Camden by the 'Rockingham administration, whose American policy and treatment. of Wilkes, notwithstanding..
he constantly opposed. The following year, al though appointed Lord Chancellor, he did not abandon his principles; and four years after sup ported an amendment made by Chatham on the Government address, and resigned his office. Beneeforth he was a political character. He took an active part against the ill-advised Amer ican policy pursued by Lord North, and in dis cussions on the law of libel, was called 'the main tainer of English constitutional liberty.' During the Revolutionary War he was very popular in the United States, and his memory is perpetu ated by many counties, towns, and villages named after him. Ile was president of the council under Rockingham in 1782-83 and under Pitt from 1783 until his death, April 18, 1794. Be was created Earl Camden and Viscount Bayham in 1786.